Sand Idioms

Several words have become part of the language in being used in phrases. Last time we looked at ‘stone’ and now look at ‘sand’. Note, historically there has never been a distinction between sand and gravel, both were described as being abrasive for each came from the Proto-Indo-European meaning ‘to rub’.

Sandhill may mean ‘dune’ in the UK – and a Sandhiller was one from Sandhill in Newcastle - but in the US a Sandhiller was one seen as a blackguard, one who used coarse language since 1813.

Sand-trap might be a golfing term since 1906, but psince 1838 referred to a device for removing impurities in a hydraulic system.

Nobody made a sandcastle until 1838, probably because beach holidays were not popular until the coming of the railways around the same time.

Nothing was sandblasted until 1878, at least it was not written as such until then.

Sandbanks have been described as such since at least the 1580s.

Sandflies were first described in 1748.

Sand fleas first appears in print in 1798.

Sandbox has been a place for children to play since 1891; from 1849 it described the device on railway locomotives used to improve grip on a wet rail; and from 1570 had been a box used to sprinkle sand.

Surprisingly, quicksand has been used in the modern sense since at least the late 13th century.

Sandpaper has been described as such since 1788.

Sandstone was first described in the 1660s.

Sandman, that mythological figure who sprinkles sand in your eyes to make you sleep, is first seen in 1861. More often associated with the US, it was more often said to be the dustman until around 1821.

Sanderlings are wading birds, first described as such around 1600.

Sandpipers are smaller wading birds, these described as such for the first time in 1670.