Playing with a full deck

Common  entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only  applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid  paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people  were thought to be stupid or dumb because  they weren't "playing with a full deck."  

Mind you own bee's wax, crack a smile, and losing face

Personal  hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, "mind  your own bee's wax." Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a smile." In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt... therefore, the expression "losing face."

Big Wig

As  incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October)! Women kept their hair  covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men  could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean  them they would carve out a loaf of bread,  put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy,  hence the term "big wig." Today we often  use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

Arm and a Leg

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others  showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted.  Arms and legs are "limbs," therefore  painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, "Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg."

Political Gossip

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no  telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians  sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to "go sip some ale" and listen to people's  conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. "You go sip here" and "You go sip there." The two words "go  sip" were eventually combined when  referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term "gossip."

Gangster Putt Putt

 In the 1920s the miniature golf craze hit America, and by 1930 there were some 40,000 courses, known variously as Lilliput Links, Tom Thumb Golf, Rinky-Dink Golf, Garden Golf and Baby Golf. There was money to be made in the “sport” and by 1930 anything that smelled potentially lucrative was sure to draw the attention of the criminal underworld.

Brass Monkey

 

In the  heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon  balls. It was necessary to keep a good  supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised  was a square-based pyramid with one ball on  top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be  stacked in a small area right next to the  cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate  called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls  would quickly rust to it. The solution to  the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and  much faster than iron when chilled.  Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron  cannonballs would come right off the  monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey."  

Pints and Quarts

At local  taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the  customers and keep the drinks coming. She  had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in "pints" and who was drinking in "quarts,"  hence the term "minding your "P's and Q's."

Chaiman

In the late  1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the  wall, and was used for dining. The "head of  the household" always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor.