There are many interesting terms that we come across our daily life and little do we know about their origins. Let us try to find out the origins for a few of the most commonly used words.

1. Marathon – we all know that marathon means to run. These days “midnight marathon” has gained popularity with many people participating and supporting various causes. The word “marathon” is said to have come from an ancient legend of Greece, of a person named Pheidippides who was a Greek officer of arms (known as ‘Herald’). Pheidippides ran 40kms from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Battle of Marathon. Due to exhaustion, he collapsed and died with the words “We have won”.

This authenticity of this legend is being debated by many scholars and historians and yet this story stands tall, making it the story behind the word “marathon”.

1. Breaking the ice – breaking the ice refers to easing a person’s anxiety in a new environment. This phrase came into being as a part of growth of civilizations and economy in olden times. We all know that many civilizations were built around water bodies and as such they became centers of business and trade. During winter, these water bodies froze and bought trade to a halt. Small-sturdy ships were built to break the ice in the water and give way for bigger trade ships. This gave way for the businessman to know their less known counterparts and seeking help. Over the years, ‘breaking the ice’ has become a synonym for a good start.
2. Spill the beans – spilling the beans means telling the truth. This phrase has a very interesting story behind it. It is said that in ancient Greece, membership into certain organizations was done through voting. White and black beans were used to denote their acceptance or non-acceptance. Every official was to drop either of the beans to notify their opinion. On certain occasions the jar containing the beans would get spilt, resulting in revealing the votes. Following this incident, spill the beans has been associated with telling the truth.
3. Graveyard shift – a graveyard shift is associated with a shift that starts anytime after 11pm. The story behind this phrase was said to have originated at the time when being buried alive was a common occurrence. People used to be buried alive with a string attached to a bell above the ground. When this string was pulled, the night guard would dig up those who were alive. This gave birth to the term “saved by the bell”. The person who would guard the graveyard at night was said to work the ‘graveyard shift’.
4. Sweetheart – one of the most commonly used words in our language is ‘sweetheart’. It usually refers to someone who is very close and dear to us. However, the name has a different origin. In olden days, before doctors knew about our circulatory system, figurative words were attached to a person’s heart with respect to their personalities. Words like soft-hearted, kind-hearted, cold-hearted etc were coined. ‘Sweté heart’, was a term coined for love, a feeling which can get our hearts racing faster. This gradually changed over time to become ‘sweetheart’, meaning someone very close to your heart.

These are some of the words which we use in our daily life without even knowing their origin. Look forward for some more interesting words.