English sayings

Came across some interesting English sayings these few days:

Smell a rat - To recognize that something is not as it appears to be or that something dishonest is happening
Example: He's been working late with her every night this week - I smell a rat!
Origin: It comes from the days when rats were common pests and carriers of disease. Dogs were prized for their ability to smell out and destroy them. A dog which began to sniff around might well have smelt a rat, and this idea was transferred to a person who was suspicious of something.


Face the music - To accept criticism or punishment for something you have done.
Example: After he was caught with the stolen goods, he had to face the music.
Origin: One theory suggests that the saying comes from the theatre, where nervous actors must literally face the music when the curtain goes up. Others think that the origin is military and based on the drumming out ceremony that accompanied dishonourable discharge.