Volume XXVI

I. Under the weather 🌧️

In 19th-century sailing, sick sailors were sent below deck (literally under the part of the ship exposed to the weather) to rest and recover.

The phrase eventually made its way to dry land, and now it’s what we say when we’re feeling off.

Whether it’s the flu, allergies, or “just one drink” turning into five, being under the weather means you’re not your sharpest and could use some harbor time.

II. Rule of thumb 👍

Before rulers existed, craftsmen used their thumbs as built-in measuring sticks — roughly an inch wide, perfect for quick estimates. That literal “thumb rule” eventually morphed into the figurative kind: a general guideline based on experience, not decree.

Today, you’ll hear it everywhere -- it’s why you never shop when hungry, never order spaghetti on a date, and always dribble out the clock in basketball.

III. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander 🪿

This one originated in 17th-century England. Back then, gander simply meant a male goose, and the phrase was a rustic way of saying “what’s fair for one is fair for the other.”

It evolved from kitchen talk to a moral point: equal standards, no double rules.

It’s something to have in your back pocket the next time your boss allows your co worker to work from home and requires you to make the jaunt into the office. Or for our younger crowd, when mom and dad allow the older sibling to stay out late, maybe fight for yourself a little. We’re just saying…

Keep on sending on. Forward to a friend.