Some idioms make more sense than others. Jumping the gun, for example, is pretty straightforward. But then there are sayings that make little sense, but remain popular. This happens every time a man is clearly sicker than his dog, or a woman attempts to locate the chip on her shoulder.
Another one of these continued idioms is the “green thumb” saying. When, referring to one who is a handy florist or gardener, they’re said to have a figurative green thumb. Dating back through decades of skilled growers, the term actually stems from literal green thumbs. After hours of planting and picking outdoors, workers’ hands would be stained green, and the name stuck. One report says the coloring came from algae that grew on flowerpots.
Another possible origin comes from King Edward I of England, who loved peas so much, he ate the produce from six farmers to keep himself satisfied. He looked to see who had the greenest thumb, and rewarded them for supplying him with the most peas.
While it’s untrue which story holds true, the saying still has an interesting and, er, colorful past. From idiom to practice, it looks as though the green thumb is here to stay.