Jump on the bandwagon

Meaning: Join a growing movement in support of someone or something, often in an opportunist way, when that movement is seen to have become successful.

Dan Rice (January 23, 1823 - February 22, 1900), was an American entertainer of many talents, most famously as a clown. During the height of his career, Rice was a household name and was a leading personality in the new American "pop culture". Rice became so popular he ran for President of the United States in 1868.

He used his bandwagon and its music to gain attention for campaign appearances. (A bandwagon is a wagon which carries the band in a parade, circus or other entertainment.) As campaigns became more successful, more politicians strove for a seat on the bandwagon, hoping to be associated with the success. Later, during the time of William Jennings Bryan's 1900 presidential campaign, bandwagons had become standard in campaigns, and "jump on the bandwagon" was used as a derogatory term, implying that people were associating themselves with the success without considering what they associated themselves with.

Hobson's choice

Meaning: No real choice at all - the only options being to either accept or refuse the offer that is given to you.

The phrase is said to originate from Thomas Hobson (1544-1631), a livery stable owner at Cambridge, England. To rotate the use of his horses he offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in the stall nearest the door or taking none at all.

To add to the oddity, he had an extensive stable of some 40 horses and therefore there appeared to offer a wide choice when in fact there was simply the choice described above.

Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning: Disclose a secret.

During the middle Ages, markets or fairs in England were held to sell livestock, produce, and other goods from around a region. Most of the livestock was sold alive, usually in sacks so that the purchaser could bring it home relatively neatly.

As a general rule, someone would inspect the pigs, chickens, and so forth for sale and pick one out, and then the farmer would bag the animal so that it could be carried. Unscrupulous merchants might replace the livestock with a cat, since cats were readily available.

The unknowing customer would carry the bag home, open it, and realize that he or she had been swindled. However, the plot relied on not letting the cat out of the bag too early.

If the bag was opened in the marketplace, the customer could demand reparations from the merchant, since the secret would be out.

Of course, the scheme would also rely on a quiet cat, since most people know the difference between an oink and a meow.

To be continued