14 Common Sayings That Have a Bizarre Origin

7. Caught Red Handed

Meaning: To be caught in the act of committing something wrong, with the evidence there for all to see.

Origin:  If someone butchered an animal that didn’t belong to him, he had to be caught with the animal’s blood on his hands to be convicted. The term originates from Scotland with the use of ‘red-handed’, simply ‘red hand’, in the Scottish Acts of Parliament of James I, 1432.

8. Show Your True Colours

Meaning: To reveal who you really are, your true nature

Origin: During the time of war, ships used multiple flags to confuse their enemies. However, in the rules of warfare, a ship had to hoist its true flag before firing, thus, showing the country’s true colours.

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