origin of some idioms

[Almudena.Saludador]

Hi!
I´m doing some research on the origin of idioms for a project at the university, but there are six idioms whose origin I can´t find anywhere. They are the following:
At odds with
Build bridges
Pat on the back
Have a soft spot for someone
Kiss and make up
Fight like cat and dog
If you could help I would be very grateful
Thanks in advance

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Almudena.Saludador

Hi!
I´m doing some research on the origin of idioms for a project at the university, but there are six idioms whose origin I can´t find anywhere. They are the following:
At odds with
Build bridges
Pat on the back
Have a soft spot for someone
Kiss and make up
Fight like cat and dog
If you could help I would be very grateful
Thanks in advance

Try Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Thesaurus and hundreds more and select Brewer. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable isn't totally reliable, but it may send you down useful research paths. Also it might be worth trying Online Etymology Dictionary .

b

[Avalon]

There´s a site called the word detective by Evan Morris that is fabulous for etymology...It´s www.word-detective.com...check it out!

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Almudena.Saludador

Hi!
I´m doing some research on the origin of idioms for a project at the university, but there are six idioms whose origin I can´t find anywhere. They are the following:
At odds with
Build bridges
Pat on the back
Have a soft spot for someone
Kiss and make up
Fight like cat and dog
If you could help I would be very grateful
Thanks in advance

I doubt you'll have much success with some of these. Build bridges is a metaphor more than an idiom. It is just a figurative use of "bridges". A pat on the back simply describes the action that accompanies praise. Fight like a cat and a dog is a simile based on observation of cats and dogs.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

I doubt you'll have much success with some of these. Build bridges is a metaphor more than an idiom. It is just a figurative use of "bridges"....

And it's a very old metaphor. The Pope was called pontifex because he built a bridge between Earth and Heaven. Ironically, because of the way the Pope lays down the (moral) law, the modern English word we get from it is pontificate (which has nothing to do with building bridges).

b

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by BobK

And it's a very old metaphor. The Pope was called pontifex because he built a bridge between Earth and Heaven. Ironically, because of the way the Pope lays down the (moral) law, the modern English word we get from it is pontificate (which has nothing to do with building bridges).

b

Interesting. I didn't know about "pontifex". I guess it has the same root as "pontoon".

[BobK]

- as far as the floating bridge sort is concerned. I don't know about the card-game - my first guess would be that it's a corruption of vingt-et-un.

b