The term has three different possible meanings but all three lead to roots in NYC. Click here for the possible meanings, all of which are very similar.  Nowadays, to eighty six something means that the desired thing is unavailable or has been discarded. 

Dark Horse is a term that was born in horse racing circles.  Click here for the origins of the term and for uses of it. (And watch the video - fun!) These days it means anyone who comes up from behind or out of nowhere and takes first place, so to speak. For example, my current job position. I was called the dark horse by getting the job offer. They had already done several interviews and were pretty much at the end of people and ready to make a decision when my application came in and they decided to do one more interview. I got the job. *wink* Came in like a dark horse, ha! 

The literal use of this phrase hails from 1838 when the phrase originally was "call it half a day" to mean leaving work early. (source) The modern use of the phrase is to indicate ending something due to false sense of accomplishment. 

Cartoonist Peter Arno is credited with the use of the "back to the drawing board" with the cartoon he penned (shown above). Click here for the full story. Back to the Drawing Board means, simply, go back to the beginning and start again or over. 

The literal meaning of this phrase has to do with hunting methods back in the day (I'm talking way back).  In mediaeval falconry where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was a valuable asset and certainly worth more than two in the bush (the prey). These days the modern meaning of this phrase is  it is better to have an advantage or opportunity that is certain than having one that is worth more but is not so certain.

Idioms * . We use them everyday, knowingly or unknowingly. Maybe you know them differently, perhaps you call them cliches or catch phrases. But they are officially known as idioms. When my youngest daughter was in Second Grade (she's a Sophomore in High School now) her teacher did a phrase a week. She took a common idiom and taught the children about what it meant. Logically the phrases make no sense but figuratively they hold a truth. I loved it. I loved that this teacher was helping children learn about this strange part of our language. Earlier this year I was on track for this next installment of 365 when an idiom, I can't recall which one right now, threw me off the track I was on and set the course for this 365. For the next 365 days I'll share an idiom a day with you. Maybe we'll learn some new ones together or maybe one that we've heard for years will finally make sense. It's quite possible we will hear ourselves saying them more often or hear othe