You’ve probably said or heard things like "the early bird gets the worm," or "close but no cigar," maybe without even thinking twice. They’re the kind of phrases you heard from your parents or picked up at school, and at some point, they just stuck. But here’s the thing: most people have no idea where they actually came from. English is full of these well-known sayings; clichΓ©s we repeat so often they’ve lost their punch. But the stories behind them are anything but boring. Here are 10 familiar clichΓ©s and their surprising origins.