Strange Origins of Common Idioms (And Which Ones Are Made Up)
Most idiom origins you've heard are probably wrong. Learn which strange origins of common idioms are real, which are myths, and how to tell the difference.
Everyday History
3 articles
History is not only kings and battles; it is the quiet origin of the ordinary things all around you. Everyday History uncovers how familiar objects, words, and customs came to be — the small inventions and half-forgotten decisions that quietly shaped daily life.
Each story is grounded in reputable sources, with credit given to the people and discoveries behind it, and honest acknowledgment when the historical record is genuinely murky.
Start exploring below and discover the surprisingly long stories hiding inside the everyday.
Why We Still Shake Hands (Even Though We Probably Shouldn't)
The handshake survived plague, germ theory, and COVID-19. Here's why we can't shake the habit — and the messy history behind a greeting we take for granted.
The History of Tipping: How America Made a Hated Custom Standard
Tipping was once rejected in America as a degrading European import. Here's how it became normalized, who pushed for it, and why we're stuck with the system today.