Did You Know Alec Guinness was Once a Copywriter?

Part 2 of a 5-part series

In 1932, fresh out of school, Alec Guinness became a copywriter for London-based Arks Publicity, where he wrote ads for Rose’s Lime Juice.

Earning only 20 shillings a week (the equivalent of about 70 US dollars today), Guinness quit his copywriters' job to try acting.

To break onto the stage, Guinness cold-called "the greatest Hamlet of his generation," John Gielgud. Gielgud advised Guinness to take lessons from actress Martita Hunt. 

After the second lesson, Hunt told Guinness, "You'll never be an actor. You've got no talent at all." But he stuck out the lessons and in a year won a scholarship to drama school. 

In 1934, Guinness landed a minor role in Gielgud's second production of Hamlet and his acting career took flight.

Did You Know Bob Newhart was Once a Copywriter?

Part 1 of a 5-part series

In the late 1950s, Bob Newhart left a job in accounting to become a copywriter for a Chicago-based film and TV production company.

During idle hours, Newhart and a coworker would entertain one another by pretending to make long phone calls about absurd topics.

They began to tape-record the calls and send the tapes to local radio stations, hoping for a gig.

After the coworker left the firm, Newhart continued to make the recordings on his own. He would portray only one end of the phone conversation, playing the "straight man" while implying what the "funny man" was saying.

Within a year, Newhart was discovered by Warner Brothers Records and his career in professional comedy was underway.

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.