phrases and sayings

[frandora]

 

Can anyone tell me how the saying "London to a brick" originated.

[Quizmonster]

It's an Australian saying basically, which is used in betting terms. If one is absolutely certain of a result - eg especially a winning racehorse - one would bet 'London to a brick' that it will win. In other words, the odds are astronomical in its favour...say, 1/500 or five hundred to one on, which means you stake 500 and make a profit of only one. A dead cert.

[Quizmonster]

Usually Australians revel in crude sayings, but we in Britain have a more vulgar version of the same idea. Here, people often say:"I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of f�ces that so-and-so will happen." (Only they don't say 'f�ces'!)

[frandora]

Thank you quizmonster, but what has this got to do with a brick!

[Quizmonster]

Well, Frandora, it took a heck of a lot of bricks to build London! Compared with the billions of these, what does a single brick count for? Cheers

[frandora]

 

Thank you quizmonster but where does the brick come in?!

[Quizmonster]

OK, Fran...Niagara to a raindrop...the Sahara to a grain of sand...a forest to a shrub...or whatever. Where all these little things - including the brick - "came in" is purely by way of contrast with the big things they are being compared to! What else can I say?
It's rare to be able to explain any idiom in detail. Why do we "bend over backwards" rather than "lean over forwards" to help someone? I don't know, do you?