Search: piping hot
Why: The heating instructions on the back of Nutrisystem dinner boxes say to "serve piping hot." It sounds terribly unprofessional. I hate it.
Answer: It comes from the whistling sound of steam! In 1390, Geoffrey Chaucer used the term in The Canterbury Tales in the 2nd story, "The Miller's Tale."
Lol, pipyng hoot. A fesnyng of frendschip.He sente hir pyment meeth and spiced ale
And wafres pipyng hoot out of the glede.[He sent her sweetened wine and well-spiced ale
And waffles piping hot out of the fire]
And in 1601, in Philemon Holland's translation of Pliny's Natural History:
Source: Phrases.org.uk"Beanes... fried all whole as they be, and so cast piping hot into sharp vineger."
The More You Know: Why pay the piper when there's free piping down the street? 6:30:
