Where Did We Get the Phrase "Don't Miss the Deadline?"

Part 5 of a 5-part series on the origin of popular phrases

When your boss insists you finish a project on time, she says, "Don't miss the deadline."

The phrase originated in Civil War prison camps.

The camps were often makeshift, without fences or walls. So to define a camp's boundaries, the commander would surround it with wooden rails laid on the ground.

If a prisoner of war stepped past the rails, he would be shot on sight.

The rails became known as the "deadline."

The phrase "Don't miss the deadline" was adopted after the war by American newspaper publishers; in the 20th century, by all business people.

Where Did We Get the Phrase "Push the Envelope"

Part 4 of a 5-part series on the origin of popular phrases

When you're innovative, we say you're trying to "push the envelope."

The phrase originates from the go-go days of aviation.

The "flight envelope" is a math formula that describes the upper and lower limits of the factors affecting safe flight, such as a plane's speed and altitude.

Daredevil pilots spoke of their urge to "push the envelope" by testing those limits.

The phrase moved into popular use after novelist Tom Wolfe included it in his 1979 book, The Right Stuff.

Where Did We Get the Phrase "Have All Your Ducks in a Row?"

Part 3 of a 5-part series on the origin of popular phrases

When you're ready, we say you "have all your ducks in a row."

American bowlers originated the phrase in the mid-19th century.

Gambling among bowlers was taking such a toll on family finances at the time that governments began to pass laws prohibiting the game.

Bowling alley operators skirted the laws by changing the rules of the game, increasing the number of pins (from nine to ten) and modifying their shape. The new-fangled pins quickly became known as "ducks."

Bowling alley operators at the time also employed "pin boys," whose job was to set up your ducks before each frame.

When the pin boy's work was complete, you were ready—because you would "have all your ducks in a row."

NOTE: Special thanks to Ann Ramsey, writer, producer and historiographer of all things cryptic, for nominating the phrases in this series.

Where Did We Get the Phrase "Touch and Go?"

Part 2 of a 5-part series on the origin of popular phrases

When a situation looks precarious, we say it's "touch and go."

Seafarers originated the phrase in the 18th century.

When a ship scraped bottom, but escaped running aground, sailors would say that passage through the dangerous waters was "touch and go."

Where Did We Get the Phrase "Make the Grade?"

Part 1 of a 5-part series on the origin of popular phrases

When you succeed or measure up, we often say you "make the grade."

Engineers who built the railroads that crisscross the US originated the phrase in the 19th century.

When constructing routes through mountainous areas, they had to be sure to design gradients locomotives could handle.

Otherwise, the trains couldn't "make the grade."