Balanced News: 4 Common Expressions With Surprisingly Dirty Origins

This news article discusses the origins of four common expressions: “call a spade a spade,” “the wrong end of the stick,” “pratfall,” and “poppycock.” The phrase “call a spade a spade” dates back to ancient Greek and originally used terms that were euphemisms for the vulva. The expression “the wrong end of the stick” may have originated from the use of sea sponges on sticks in ancient Rome. “Pratfall” has roots in British slang and referred to body parts like the buttocks and vagina. Lastly, “poppycock” originated from Dutch immigrants in the United States and means “soft shit.”