SOCIAL media users have only just realised the origins of the popular phrase 'bite the bullet' – and it's all to do with history.
The common three-word phrase means doing something one may find unpleasant or difficult – but have you ever wondered where it comes from?
According to fans of TikTok, 'biting the bullet' has links to history and war – and the bullet part has quite a literal meaning.
One history enthusiast only known as AlookBackInTime on the popular platform, explained: ''During battles, there was no time to administer anaesthesia while performing surgeries.''
This meant that soldiers had to resort to biting bullets in order to distract themselves from the oftentimes excruciating pain.
''They had to 'bite the bullet','' the history fanatic claimed in the video.
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Sharing the interesting facts, the avid TikTok user also revealed the origins of another popular saying – giving someone 'the cold shoulder'.
This, the guru said, stems from the dinner culture centuries ago.
''In the early 1800s, when you were no longer welcome at a dinner party, the host might serve you cold meat from pork or beef shoulder.''
The history pro went on to spill the beans on the phrase ''show your true colours'' – and it's to do with battle ships.
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''To confuse their enemies, warships would use multiple flags.
''However, warfare rules dictated that the shops must show its actual flag before firing.
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''So they had to 'show their true colours'.''
Inspired by knowledge, others then flocked to comments to share their favourite facts of literature and sayings.
One fan insisted: ''we say bless u because sneezing was a symptom of the plague so they’d be like omg god bless u thinking ur gonna die [sic].''
''Bees knees, in world war 1 or 2 the Italians we’re trying to say it was the business but it sounded like bees knees,'' someone else added.
'' "hands down" is from when a jockey is so far ahead In a race they could let go of the reigns = winning hands down,'' another wrote.
''raining cats and and dogs, when they'd sleep on thatched roof houses and would fall through when it rained,'' a clever TikTok user claimed.
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