This is an I-Heart podcast.

And we continue with our American stories.

And up next, we continue with our recurring series about the curious origins of everyday

sayings. Here to join us once again is Andrew Thompson as he continues to share another slice

from his ultimate guide to understanding these mini mysteries of the English language.

To have someone over a barrel means that someone is helpless or at someone's mercy, and it

has nautical origins and relates to the practice of rescuing a drowning sailor.

Once hauled from the water, the other crew members would place the sailor face down over

a barrel in order to empty his lungs members would place the sailor face down over a barrel

in order to empty his lungs of water.

The sailor would be rolled back and forth in an attempt to expel the water from his mouth.

Being completely helpless and often unconscious, the sailor was totally relying on the other crew members to save him,

and he was said to be over a barrel. To have the bit between your teeth means to take control of a situation and it has

origins in horse racing. The bit is derived from the old English word meaning bite and is the

mouthpiece in a horse's bridle that is used to control the horse's movements.

When a horse is being ridden normally the reins press the bit against the soft part of the horse's mouth, causing him to turn his head.

But if the horse grabs it so that the bit is between his teeth, it takes the control away from the rider and the reins have no effect.

The horse can then run freely however it chooses.

This expression was being used by the late 1600s.

When someone says head over heels, it generally means that they're completely in love.

And this expression began in the 14th century and actually began as heels overhead. And this in fact made more logical sense

as it meant to be upside down or to be so excited that you turn your heels over your head in a

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