Does your mind ever start with a question, and then rabbit track? I asked to no one in particular, “Where does the saying ‘brand new’ come from?” First, I thought of the word brand as in a business name, coming up with a new product. Nope. When I looked it up, it referred to a branding iron, heating up something new. Being branded required fire. Hmm…when something new comes to my life, I go through the fire, too! (Trials.)
Then I wondered about the phrase, “brand spanking new.” In my mind, that’s talking about the old tradition of doctors holding babies upside down and spanking them to get them to take their first breath. But sadly, it has nothing to do with that. I like my idea better!