Skip to main content

A Kings Ransom

 

A Kings Ransom




Meaning:

A king’s ransom is used when we are expressing an unspecific but large amount of money.


Example Sentence:

“Don’t laugh—she makes a king’s ransom selling clothing for pets.”

Origin:

This idiom is said to be around since the Middle Ages, and it is referring to an actual sum of money, the amount required to gain the freedom of a king who was being held prisoner due to a wartime capture.

During wars in the Middle Ages, each participant had a price on their head; the richer and more influential the person captured, the more money could be obtained to secure their release.

 Historical research has shown that there was a well-organized trade in the captives of war and the capturing of high-ranking prisoners, which led to a significant bonus in the income of the capturing forces.

Of course, kings were the wealthiest and provided the greatest bounty. In 1192 the Duke of Austria captured The English king, King Richard I. A price of 100,000 pounds in silver was demanded (and eventually obtained) for his release. This transition led to the meaning of the phrase 'a king's ransom' from the literal price for the release of a king to a figurative name for an exceedingly large sum of money.

The first written record of a king’s ransom was in 1525. Written in old English, it read:

(Talis Fyve Bestes - "A kyngis ransoun it was worth & maire.")

Today we use a king’s ransom simply to denote a large amount of money - no kings or their release being involved.

Watch this on YouTube here - Royalty - YouTube Video



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cold Hand, Warm Heart

  Cold Hands, Warm Heart Watch this on YouTube here - Staying In - Youtube Video Meaning: Cold hands, warm heart alludes to people who have cold hands, have kind and loving personalities.   Example Sentence:   Jessica: "I don't like holding hands with Steve. His hands are so cold."   Taylor: "Cold hands, warm heart."     Origin: This phrase has been around since the 1700’s and is said to come from a French phrase Froides mains, chaudes amours, from Dictionnaire des proverbes françois by Georges de Backer in (1710). The phrase has held the same meaning since it has been written. This idiom has been alive for a while and is still used today. The first English text of the phrase cold hands, warm heart was in 1903 by V.S. Lean in 'Collectanea."  " Cold Hands, Warm Heart" The expression does not only exist in English and French but is also known in German as Kalte Hand, Warmez Herz. Today we use it to say just because a person might s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shooting Fish In A Barrel

  Shooting Fish In A Barrel Watch this on YouTube here - Fishy Idioms - YouTube Video Meaning: When a simple task needs to be done and there is guaranteed success in the task. A simple activity. Example Sentence: "The size of my apartment is relatively small, so keeping it nice and tidy is  like shooting fish in a barrel ." Origin:      The earliest instance found of this phrase was in a column called By the By! on February 11th, 1902. The column tells a story about 2 men - a high-end tea taster and a man drinking alcohol. the tea tester says that the man drinking alcohol can't tell what he is drinking after only 2 drinks. The drunk man replies "Oh yes I can, and what more I can tell you the brand of alcohol with certainty."  The tea tester takes the bet. After the drinking test was over the drunk man won. He was asked, "How on Earth did you do it?" He replied, "Just as simple as shooting fish in a barrel."      This saying originates from b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees

  Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees  Watch this on YouTube here - Tree Video - YouTube Video Meaning: Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees means money is a limited resource and is not easily acquired, so it shouldn’t be spent in a careless manner. "Money doesn't grow on trees ya' know" Origin: So where does this phrase come from? Well, it is from the idea, that leaves are abundant, trees are full of them. So, if someone runs out of cash, they cannot simply go out to their backyard and pull dollar bills off the branches of a tree. No, money is not acquired so easily; a person has to work hard for it. The first time this is in writing is in 1891 in the Statesville Landmark newspaper it reads: “Money doesn’t grow on trees here yet.” Example: Today we still use this phrase to say that you have to work hard to get money, you can’t just go outside and pick it off the trees. An example sentence is: “I know you want a new bike, but I can’t afford it right now, Money doesn’t grow on tr...
Post a Comment
Read more