• "Not worth a continental damn": In my early youth, this phrase was used by adults in casual conversation, and my Dad often used it. I recall that it was used to amplify the worthlessness of something or someone, and was always derogatory. I never understood what the "continental" part meant, and don't recall ever asking about it, or hearing anyone explain its significance.

Source: "Washington's Spies" by Alexander Rose. While reading this historical writing about the use of spies by General Washington during our revolution, I came across its obvious source. As part of the British plan to destroy colonial resistance, they aimed to destroy the continental currency. Counterfeiting was not only encouraged but also done by the British, and worse, for valid notes, the British advertised that almost all continental currency was counterfeit, even when it was genuine. As such, attempted payments were routinely said to be "not worth a continental". A "continental" was the name of the currency, much like we use "dollar" today. My 5th great grandfather served with both civil and patriotic service during our Revolution and would have been intimately familiar with its use, and this phrase obviously survived through his descendants for me to hear at least into the 1950s or about 130 years after the Revolution. I don't hear it anymore, except maybe by me, although it probably lives in the active memory of a few of my generation with genetic roots back to our Revolutionary War. For my part, I've now decided to use it again. Apropos for even today, as our own U.S. Treasury is printing worthless notes, though still valid currency, but fast becoming not worth a "continental damn", as the new British clone actively does everything possible to destroy our nation.

• "AFRICAN-AMERICAN", or "MEXICAN-AMERICAN", ETC.": These phrases always make me mad, unless they are correctly used. There is an effort underway to give new meaning to such phrases, and it is WRONG to do so, and never will be right. I refuse to participate in the destruction of the meanings of words that are important. By definition, an African-American is a person who has immigrated to America; by virture of that person immigrating, that person alone is an African-American. All descendants are thereafter Americans. If someone is an American citizen, and is not the 1st immigrant of that line, then they are an American, NOT an African-American or Mexican-American, etc. It's stupidity, if done inspite of knowing the real meaning, or ignorance for those who flippantly use incorrect words. I accept no ones incorrect use of words as a means to justify an end that is wrong from its inception.

• "Lock, Stock & Barrel": This is a common phrase, even today, for a use of something like -- I've got it all lock, stock, & barrel (everything). This phrase goes back to as early as 1610 but probably became common in early America. Its basis is in the Flintlock rifle or pistol. Either weapon consisted of three components, the lock (firing mechanism), stock, and barrel; having all three meant that you had everything needed to fire the weapon.

• "Go Off Half-Cocked" This is another commone phrase even today. Typically, someone of sound judgement might tell a friend, or someone they cared about, who was deeply aggravated about something and was about to go do something about it. They would then be admonished to not "go off half-cocked". Or clearer said, think about this, and calm down so that if you're going to go do something, then make sure that you're fully prepared to do things the right way. It's genesis is from the Flintlock rifle or pistol. When preparing to fire, you half-cocked the hammer in order to put flint in the pan of the lock. Then you fully cocked the hammer to fire it. The hammer smashed into the flint and generated a large spark that was sufficient to ignite the powder. If the shooter forgot to full-cock the hammer, the rifle or pistol was fired at half-cock and that strike of the hammer was usually insufficient to ignite the powder, and likely only generate a flash in the pan. That's also where the phrase of useless as a "Flash in the Pan" comes from.
• "MesDames": A plural of Madam, or the plural of Madame. Typically used in genealogy preceeding a list of married women in, for example, an obituary. In such case, it typically means the woman in charge of a particular household.