Why do we say that?

I’m a student of words and phrases. It’s interesting to understand how specific phrases or words were born into common usage. Many years ago when we toured Henry VIII’s Hampton Court in England, the guide explained how the phrase “upper crust” came into being. When bread was baked in the massive stone ovens, the bottoms of the loaves came out charred. The bottoms went to the workers. The top of the loaf went to the Lord and Lady, the good, soft on the inside and crispy golden brown bread. The upper crust went to the nobility who began to be called the Upper Crust. The explanation made sense to me, even though some etymologists, who make the study of words their life’s work, say the term has nothing to do with bread. Other explanations seem inadequate, I’ll stick with the bread.

Look closely at the picture on this post. This is my kitchen window jammed with a variety of objects, not because I have run out of counter space, but to deter a certain scarlet tanager from flying at the window. I’m not worried about the window as much as I fear he will break his silly neck.

Last week we noticed a house on the ninth fairway with floor to ceiling windows, had half a dozen sheets of white paper taped up in what appeared to be a random pattern. I think those were also bird deterrents.

From these two pieces of evidence, my internal etymologist is prepared to pronounce, this is why we say the incredibly stupid, people or animals, are BIRDBRAINS!

I know there are orinthologists with their extensive study of birds who may want to argue with my conclusion, but until the scarlet tanager is flying at their windows…I rest my case.

3 thoughts on “Why do we say that?”

  1. lovely Kim! I have scarlet tanagers at my feeder for the first time ever this year. I also have one yellow tanager so I looked them up and the males are red, females are yellow. based on your writing I believe it will only be the red ones that are birdbrains, the yellow ones will avoid flying into the window altogether. I’m sure you see my point here. 🙂

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