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Origin of Phrases - U

 

Ultimatum

Yet another word rooted in Latin, ultimatum originates from the Late Latin verb "ultimare," to be at the end.  Though the word is Latin in form, its transition to the English language is believed to hav come through the French, which historically had been referred to as the language of diplomacy.

 

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Origin of Phrases - U

 

Underdog

This comes from the losing canine in a dogfight.  Once a dog was pinned by another, its throat was exposed for a potentially fatal bite.  A bystander had to intervene in order to save the life of the disadvantaged dog underneath.

 

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Origin of Phrases - U

 

University

OK, try to follow this one.  University comes from the Old French word universite, which came from the Latin word ūniversitās, which itself was derived from the Latin ūniversus (source of the English word universe).  This originally meant "whole," but in the post-classical period it was appied to guilds and other associations, referring to the "totality" of their membership.  These included societies of teachers and students, from which the modern meaning of university emerged.

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Origin of Phrases - U

 

Until Hell Freezes Over

While it's expected that this would be an old expression, there is no recorded use of it in print until the 20th century.  In 1919, Admiral J.A. Fisher, former first sea lord of the British Admiralty, signed off a letter saying, "Yours till hell freezes."