(See the full infographic below!)

If you’ve ever studied abroad or travelled to destinations with the intent to absorb as much of the culture and language as possible, you’re well aware of how difficult it is to learn the intricacies of each spoken word and phrase.

All languages have their own unique phrases and idioms, often derived from local or cultural customs, historical events, important figures, or religious traditions, that don’t have a direct translation. There are approximately 25,000 idioms in the English language alone, all of which have been widely adopted in everyday conversation. We often use these phrases liberally without understanding their root or original context. Some of these idioms were quite literate all the time they were conceived, making their origins that much more interesting to study.

Invaluable created this visual that outlines the origins of some of the most common English expressions, the countries in which they came from, and how we use them in our everyday speech.

Check it out, and become a little more aware of the words we speak everyday!