Where did that come from?

CROCODILE TEARS Comes from the old belief that a crocodile wept if it killed and ate a man. CUT AND RUN In an emergency rather than haul up an anchor the sailors would cut the anchor cable then run with the wind. GIVE SOMEBODY THE COLD SHOULDER When an unwanted visitor came you gave them cold shoulder of mutton instead of hot meat as a hint that they were not to call again. GO TO POT Any farm animal that had outlived its usefulness such as a hen that no longer laid eggs would literally go to pot. It was cooked and eaten. LET THE A LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME This phrase comes from the Bible. In Ecclesiastes 10:20 the writer warns us not to curse the king or the rich even in private or a 'bird of the air' may report what you say'. RUB SALT INTO A WOUND Is derived from the days when salt was rubbed into wounds as an antiseptic. SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS Pirate ships would approach their intended victim showing a false flag to lure them into a false sense of security. When it was too late for the victim to escape they would show their true colours-the jolly roger! START FROM SCRATCH This phrase comes from the days when a line was scratched in the ground for a race. The racers would start from the scratch. TAKEN ABACK If the wind suddenly changed direction a ship was taken aback, which was a bit of a shock for the sailors.THORN IN MY SIDE Comes from the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul states that he was given a 'thorn in my flesh' to prevent him becoming proud. We are not told what the 'thorn' was, perhaps it was some form of illness. WASH MY HANDS OF The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, refused to be involved in the death of an innocent person (Jesus). So he washed his hands in front of the crowd, symbolically disassociating himself from the execution.