| A. Baker’s Dozen: thirteen items |
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1. In medieval times, young apprentices were expected to hold a candle for a more experienced workman so that they could see what they were doing. |
| B. Dressed to the nines: dressed flamboyantly |
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2. In Roman times, the scholars noticed that the hottest days of the year (in July & August) seem to coincide with the siting of the evening star Sirius, aka the Great Dog. |
| C. Field Day: a special or enjoyable time |
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3. Sixteenth century Scottish farmers paid their rent, or mail, to English landlords in the form of silver money also known as white mail, or livestock , which was known as the opposite. |
| D. Freelance: working wherever jobs can be found rather than for one steady employer |
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4. When votes were taken in ancient Greece, white beans indicated positive votes and black beans were negative votes. If a black vote was accidentally seen before the vote was complete, the collector was said to have done this. |
| E. Scot free: to escape from pursuers or to get off without payment |
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5. In primitive times, slaughtered animals were hung from a wooden frame known as a bucket. Sometimes in their death spasms, the animals would actually kick the wooden frame. |
| F. Hold a candle: to aid or assist. The expression “can’t hold candle” means to compare poorly to something else. |
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6. During the 17th century, an English judge made a ruling that a man could beat his wife with a stick as long as is was no bigger than his thumb. |
| G. Middle of the road: opting to go neither one way or another |
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7. During the middle ages, when food and waste were thrown from buildings into the street gutters, the center of the road was often the only safe place to walk. |
| H. Spill the beans: divulge a secret |
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8. In England during the middle ages, pagans held a summer festival each year where they would build large fires to burn the bones of livestock slaughtered during the past year. |
| I. Rule of thumb: according to a rough and ready rule |
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9. During medieval times, there were severe penalties for anyone who sold goods with short weight. Therefore bakers often gave an extra loaf when selling a dozen. |
| J. Dog day: very hot day |
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10. During medieval times, a knight (or lance) without ties to an overlord was free to accept employment wherever he could find it. |
| K. Blackmail: to exhort money or something of value |
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11. In the middle ages, fairs and traveling shows were usually set up in open fields. |
| L. Kick the bucket: to die |
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12. In early Scotland, villagers didn’t have to pay taxes, which was also know as a “scot”, therefore they got off … |
| M. Bonfire: a large outdoor fire |
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13. During renaissance times, tailors were known to use up to nine yards of cloth to create elaborate suits for the well dressed gentry. |
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