We've all heard them a time or two and probably even used a few ourselves. You know 'em, you love 'em...overused and sometimes odd expressions.  Why do we use them so much and what in tarnation do they mean?

And while we're at it...where exactly is 'tarnation' and how does one get there?

So what are some of these sayings and what do they mean, you ask? Well, you twisted my arm so I guess I'll tell you. Oops. Look at that, I already gave you one without even trying.

Example number one: "You twisted my arm so I'll do it."

Of course, no one actually twisted my arm. It's just an expression that means someone coerced us into doing something, when in fact they did little or nothing. We had probably wanted to do whatever it was we ended up doing all along. This expression just allows us to make it look as if it were your idea and maybe even trick you into believing that it was.

How did this saying originate? Well, it originated as everything does, a long time ago. Perhaps a strange little man used to run through his village giving people Indian burns until they did what he wanted them to. An abusive and demanding crazy villager taking everybody to school? Yeah, I'd say that's pretty plausible.

Example number two: "Like a bat out of Hell"

As in, "She flew outta here like a bat outta Hell." This expression usually refers to someone leaving or moving from a place quickly. Most often in a state of duress. Such as angry or upset. A little old lady moving at extra slow speed while pushing her shopping cart through the grocery store would not garner "bat outta Hell" status. You would, however, as you irrately thrust your own cart out from behind the slow shopper, whipping past Granny in a fuy of cereal boxes and Tang, shouting, "Eat my grocery dust!"

Apparently bats in Hell are usually pissed and fly really fast.

Example number three: "get your goat"

As in, "He/she is only doing that to get your goat." Or  "He/she is trying to get your goat."

This expression refers to someone saying or doing something with the sole purpose of aggravating you. Your "goat" is your patience. And "getting" it means catching it, stomping on it and utterly ripping your patience to shreds. I feel sorry for the poor goats who inspired this one. Once again, some crazy villiager in the olden days must have been ticking people off and snatching their goats. I don't even want to know what crazy village man did with the goats once he snatched them....

This expression also has a second form as well, which is "He/she/it knows where your goat is tied."

This saying carries basically the same idea as its partner, adding that the person is not only trying to mess with you, but also knows exactly how they will be going about ticking you off and what gets you riled up the quickest.

However this part of the expression carries a foreboding air, insinuating that crazy village man is not only after your prize goat, but also knows where you live. A goat stalker, if you will.

Example number four: "the bee's knees"

As in "That (insert person, event or object) is the bee's knees." This expression is used to say something is good or "sweet" even. My guess is that a bee's knee is the part that holds the most honey. Bee knees are well known to be hairy so it is likely that the honey gets stuck in all the tiny hairs. Shick doesn't make a razor that small and even if they did, bees are legendary for going 'Au Naturale'. Therefore bee knees are sweet and 'a good thing.'

Martha Stewart, eat your heart out.

Example number five: "high speed come-apart"

As in "If that waiter doesn't bring my food soon, I'm gonna have a high speed come-apart." This basically means if the current progression of things doesn't change, and soon, you are going to get very angry and quite possibly have a temper tantrum. In other words, having a "high speed come-apart" is just a more colorful way of saying your going to throw a hissy fit if you don't get your way.

I suppose this came about when a man from the olden days got really mad at some kid who had been teasing him from across the street while the man waited in the buggy for his wife to come out of the general store. Finally, after several minutes of yelling at the boy, the man says, "That's it." and flicks the reins to send the horse and buggy chasing after the impish boy. Unfortunately, the man had no way of knowing that while the boy had been taunting him from across the street, the boy's friends had been busy quietly loosening the whels of his buggy. So, when the horse took off and the buggy lurched, the wheels fell off and the boys had a good chuckle. Or something like that. Hence the expression.

Example number six: "slicker than snot"

This one is just a bonus. My husband offered it up as I was writing this. I think he was trying to be helpful, so I figured I had better add it. I suppose to use it correctly in a sentence, you would say, "He thinks he's slicker than snot." Or perhaps "The rain made the gound slicker than snot." I think the meaning is pretty self explanatory here. Snot is slick as is wet ground and sleazeballs.

I do not even want to venture a guess as to how or why this originated. Every theory that has popped into my head as produced an "EEEWWW" so I will spare you the details and let you imagine that one up on your own. Thanks, honey for such a great visual, though. I'm sure everyone enjoyed it.

I am so proud.