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33
Knowledge is power – these words were first used by Francis Bacon, an English
philosopher, statesman and writer of the 16-17t
h
centuries. He came out against the
scholastic teaching of the Middle Ages and stood for experimental science. His
books, after the manner of the age, were written in Latin. The literal translation of
the Latin phrase under consideration is “Even knowledge itself is power.”
(Эльянова Н .М. Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971)
Meet you Waterloo – if you say that smb meets their Waterloo you mean they
suffer a very severel defeat or failure, especially one which causes them to finally
give up what they are trying to do. In 1815, Napoleon suffered his final defeat at
the battle of Waterloo in Belgium. (Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms, 1995)
Olive branch (tree) – in the Bible story of the Flood, Noah let out a dove which
came back with a small piece of an olive tree. This showed that the water was
beginning to go down. The olive branch therefore regarded as a sign that the loving
relationship between God and man had been reestablished. (Longman Dictionary
of English Language and Culture, Longman, 1998)
One swallow does not make a spring – the expression is drawn from one of the
Aesop’s fables. The moral it contains is – don’t make hasty conclusions. In
Aesop’s fable, a light-minded youth, who has squandered his father’s fortune, sells
in the end his last property – a cloak when he sees one swallow that has returned
from the south. But soon afterwards a heavy frost comes again and the young man
curses the swallow which has heralded spring. (Эльянова Н .М. Popular Phrases –
their origin and meaning, 1971)
A peeping Tom – a person who secretly looks at others who think they are not
being watched, especially when they are undressed. From the story of ‘Peeping
Tom’ who is said to have been a tailor from the city Coventry in central England,
who peeped at Lady Godiva as she rode through the city with no clothes on and
was struck blind. (from the Internet)
A round-table conference – a formal discussion or meeting all the participants of
which have perfectly equal rights. It’s associated with King Arthur and his knights
– the knights of the Round Table, so called from the large circular table round
which they sat. The table was circular to prevent any heart sore about precedence.
It was given to Arthur on his wedding day by Merlin, the wizard. The knights of
the Round table, famed for their valour, went into different countries in quest of
adventures and are said to have fought to put down evil. (Эльянова Н .М. Popular
Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971)
Tie the knot – get married. Some marriage ceremonies actually tie together the
wrist of the bride and groom. Webster defines “tie” as “to unite in marriage” . (from
the Internet)
33 Knowledge is power – these words were first used by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, statesman and writer of the 16-17th centuries. He came out against the scholastic teaching of the Middle Ages and stood for experimental science. His books, after the manner of the age, were written in Latin. The literal translation of the Latin phrase under consideration is “Even knowledge itself is power.” (Эл ь ян ов а Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) Meet you Waterloo – if you say that smb meets their Waterloo you mean they suffer a very severel defeat or failure, especially one which causes them to finally give up what they are trying to do. In 1815, Napoleon suffered his final defeat at the battle of Waterloo in Belgium. (Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms, 1995) Olive branch (tree) – in the Bible story of the Flood, Noah let out a dove which came back with a small piece of an olive tree. This showed that the water was beginning to go down. The olive branch therefore regarded as a sign that the loving relationship between God and man had been reestablished. (Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture, Longman, 1998) One swallow does not make a spring – the expression is drawn from one of the Aesop’s fables. The moral it contains is – don’t make hasty conclusions. In Aesop’s fable, a light-minded youth, who has squandered his father’s fortune, sells in the end his last property – a cloak when he sees one swallow that has returned from the south. But soon afterwards a heavy frost comes again and the young man curses the swallow which has heralded spring. (Эл ь ян ова Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) A peeping Tom – a person who secretly looks at others who think they are not being watched, especially when they are undressed. From the story of ‘Peeping Tom’ who is said to have been a tailor from the city Coventry in central England, who peeped at Lady Godiva as she rode through the city with no clothes on and was struck blind. (from the Internet) A round-table conference – a formal discussion or meeting all the participants of which have perfectly equal rights. It’s associated with King Arthur and his knights – the knights of the Round Table, so called from the large circular table round which they sat. The table was circular to prevent any heart sore about precedence. It was given to Arthur on his wedding day by Merlin, the wizard. The knights of the Round table, famed for their valour, went into different countries in quest of adventures and are said to have fought to put down evil. (Эл ь ян ова Н .М . Popular Phrases – their origin and meaning, 1971) Tie the knot – get married. Some marriage ceremonies actually tie together the wrist of the bride and groom. Webster defines “tie” as “to unite in marriage” . (from the Internet)
