So now you know!

Do you know why zero scores in tennis are called “love”? This is a French derivative. The French referred to the zero scores on the board as an egg (l’oeuf). When tennis was introduced in America and UK, they mispronounced it as “love” - and it has stuck.

Do you know why men’s clothes have buttons sewn on the right while women’s clothes have buttons on the left? Buttons were initially very expensive and only affordable by the rich. Since most men were right-handed, it was easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. Wealthy women had maids to dress them, so buttons were on the maid’s right. And it has stuck.

Do you know why coin containers are called piggy banks? Long ago cookware in Europe were made of an orange clay called “pygg”. When people saved coins in jars made of this clay they were called pygg pots. An English potter misunderstood the meaning and created containers resembling pigs. And so piggy banks were created. And it has stuck.

Do you know why someone in a very happy place is said to be on cloud 9? At one time clouds were classified into 10 different types. Cloud 9 were the cumulus clouds which look soft and cushiony – reflective of the comforts of paradise. They were also clouds that rose the highest. Hence being on cloud 9 implies being in a state of bliss. Even today.

Do you know how the word caddy came about? In the early days of the game, there were no golf bags so military cadets carried the clubs in bundles for the aristocracy. When Mary Queen of Scots came to France she liked the idea and took the practice home with her. In French the word is pronounced “ca- day”. The Scots changed it to “caddie”. And it has stuck.

So now you know!