Trivia facts: Proverbs edition – we're spilling the tea

And because we've not only eaten nut but also wisdom with spoons, we're sharing some of it with you - because sharing is caring! To help you break the ice at your next party, we've picked out the background to three proverbs:

Butter them up:

What do circus bears have in common with Chinese deities? Both were buttered up: The bears after training to reward them, the deities to make them gracious. And hopefully not just for you, when they're not stingy with the compliments so you can snack on your salted caramel chocolate almonds!

Everything in butter:

It's getting greasy: when porcelain was transported in the Middle Ages, it was usually in bumpy carriages. To protect the porcelain, it was "soaked" in liquid butter beforehand. Once the butter had hardened, it provided a protective film that could be washed off at the destination.

Being able to hold a candle to someone:

When there was no cutlery, people ate with their hands. Even in noble houses. There, only the best servants were allowed to serve the obligatory bowl of water to wash their hands.

Adding your two cents

The idiom probably originated in the 17th century because innkeepers at the time served mustard with every dish, even if it didn't match, to make it look more expensive. This was compared to unwanted advice and led to the origin of the saying.

Butter to the fish

This saying calls on people to make clear statements or take decisive steps. It comes from North German cuisine, where adding butter to a fish dish completes it.