You’ve been using them for years… but have you ever really understood what they mean? Half don’t even mean what you believe they do – and some have completely insane origins that will make you raise an eyebrow. If you’ve ever uttered “blood is thicker than water,” believing it has something to do with family, be ready for a shock. Let’s blow the dust off these sayings and reveal the truth.
“Money Is the Root of All Evil”
So money itself is evil? Not really.
The real quote is “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Big distinction. It’s not money that is evil – it’s obsession, greed, and questionable morals. So no, your fantasy of owning a Lambo does not make you evil. But pawning your grandma’s kidneys to get one might.
“Jack of All Trades, Master of None”
Sounds like a diss… but it’s not.
The actual phrase is: “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one.” Ka-boom. It’s actually a compliment to being a jack-of-all-trades! So, all you multitaskers with 10 side hustles? You’re killing it – not flopping.
“Blood Is Thicker Than Water”
You thought it meant family is first? Try again.
The whole quote is: “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” Yes, literally, that what you pledge (e.g., friendship or vows) is more powerful than blood. So when somebody is going to guilt trip you on this quote next, remind them – it’s more about commitment, not DNA.
“Carpe Diem”
Seize the day? Sure. At what expense, though?
They prefer to yell “carpe diem” before making dumb decisions, such as leaving their jobs to open a llama ranch. But the actual quote was “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero,” or “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow.” Not YOLO philosophy – it was a humble reminder that tomorrow won’t be coming. Not dumb, just realistic.
“Great Minds Think Alike”
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Well… hold that thought.
The entire quote is sarcastic, actually: “Great minds think alike, fools seldom differ.” It’s a backhanded compliment telling you just because you don’t disagree with someone doesn’t mean you’re smart – or right. Next time somebody says it, side-eye them a bit.
“The Customer Is Always Right”
Ever had a retail job? You know this one’s trash.
It started as a company’s doublespeak to market customer service, not the truth. Customers are wrong, rude, and plain crazy. This was marketing hype that got to be standard nightmare fare for all store clerks and waiters.
“Curiosity Killed the Cat”
Warning against being nosy? Not really.
The old saying was, “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” Huge difference. It’s pro-curiosity, actually. It implies that being curious might lead to trouble, but finding out might be totally worth it.
“Pull Yourself Up by Your Bootstraps”
Sounds motivational – but it started out as a joke.
Originally, it was doing something physically impossible – such as pulling yourself up by your own boots. It was a ridicule of “making it on your own” with no assistance. Now, somehow, it’s a slogan for toxic hustle culture.
“Let Them Eat Cake”
Spoiler: She never actually said it.
This saying is falsely (and famously) credited to Marie Antoinette as a clueless put-down of starving peasants. Historians question, however, whether she ever said it. And even if she did? “Let them eat brioche”—a more luxurious bread. Either way, still rather tone-deaf.
“Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day”
You think it’s a patience thing. But there’s a catch.
Sure, it means great things take time. But it also implies constant effort. Rome wasn’t just “not built” in a day – it took endless, daily hustle. So if you’re chilling while manifesting your dreams… Rome’s laughing at you.
“A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing”
So… knowing a bit is worse than knowing nothing? Yep.
This is to all you people who read a single fact and then they are an expert. Looking at you, TikTok dieticians and couch counselors. Half-truths hurt more than ignorance. Read the whole article next time.
“Be the Change You Wish to See in the World”
Sounds Gandhi-ite. But did he ever say it?
Nope. This clean-up quote is a short paraphrase of Gandhi’s actual words, which were much deeper and concerned with inner transformation. The real quote says “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” Still inspiring, but don’t have it tattooed on yourself if you aren’t clear what you’re quoting.
“Starve a Cold, Feed a Fever”
Old-fashioned advice that aged… poorly.
This isn’t a medical proverb. In fact, starving yourself when you’re sick is the very opposite of healthy. Your body needs energy to fight. So if you’re told to skip that bowl of soup when you’re sneezing your lungs out – ignore them and grab a spoon.
“Rule of Thumb”
Yes, it’s not the rule you think.
People just casually say this without knowing its grossly rumored past. It’s erroneously believed to have come from an old law authorizing the use of sticks “not thicker than the thumb” to beat wives. Sure, that’s not factual, but it still has gross associations. Maybe… just use “general rule”?
“You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too”
That one just sounds dumb until you know what it means.
It is that you can’t have two contradictory things simultaneously, like eating a cake and holding onto it. It is having your cake and eating it too. So if you’re ghosting someone while asking for loyalty… you’re eating cake and trying to hold onto it. Doesn’t work.
17 Common Words with Offensive Origins
From racial origins to classist slurs, these words did not stand the test of time—and nobody knows. Prepare to side-eye your vocabulary and say, “Wait… WHAT did I just say?”
17 Common Words with Offensive Origins
Secret Messages Hidden in Famous Works of Art
Behind every brushstroke, some of history’s most famous artists were sneaking in the shade, dirty jokes, and downright scandals.
These masterpieces are anything but innocent. Once you know what’s really hiding in them, you’ll never look at “fine art” the same way again.
Secret Messages Hidden in Famous Works of Art