ESL Blogs

I like to find and read the origin of certain thing, be it words, inventions, or simply silly and obscure things. Here, I have collected a few things that I want to share with everyone. Feel free to add.

Did you know?

1. Corn flakes were discovered by accident

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg and his brother Will Keith Kellogg discovered corn flakes by accident when they left their cooked wheat unattended to attend more important matter. The cooked wheat had became stale, but due to their strict budget, they processed the stale wheat and discovered it became flakes of which they toasted it and served to their patients. You may read here to read more about it.

2. Potato Chips were a backfired plan

In 1853, George Crum, a Native American was employed as a chef in an elegant resort. A guest had requested to be served with French fries but then rejected the order because it was too thick. George Crum decided to serve the guest with thin and crisp fries. To his surprise, the plan backfired, and the guest love his thin and crisp fries. From there on, guests asked to be served with Crum's potato chips. Click here to read more.

3. Saved by the Bell Expression

The expression "Saved by the bell" means a last minute intervention. In the old days, people were buried even though they were not positively identified as dead. This was because of lead poisoning of which put them in coma of which sometimes could be construed as dead. Therefore, people at that time would attached a bell to a coffin just in case that the person was alive and avoid being buried alive. Another version of the origin of this expression is about a boxing term. A boxer who was in danger of losing a round could be "saved" from defeat by a bell that marks the end of a round. Click here to read about these two origins and decide for yourself. 

4. Bikini was named after an atoll

A French engineering Louis Réard was credited to be the inventor of modern bikini. He named his invention after the Bikini Atoll, in the Pacific, the site of an atomic test. He hoped that his invention would caused the burst of excitement as explosive as an atomic bomb. Click here to read the history of the bikini.

5. Chewing gum was invented from failed experiments

Thomas Adams was experimenting to make toys, masks, rain boots and bicycle trees with chicle from sapodilla tree from Mexico. However, all his experiments failed. One day, he popped a piece of surplus stock into his mouth and likes the taste. He had the idea to add flavour to the chicle and thus, chewing gum was invented. Read here about the history of chewing gum.

These are a few of collections of origins of facts, inventions and expressions that I have come across. You may add any additional information.