No strings attached

Originally posted 23 Oct 2019…

Oh my goodness, I now have old school N*Sync in my head now! Ah, the good (or not so good?) old days…. Although it’s probably better not to relive that time.

Where did the phrase “No strings attached” come from?

I imagine actual strings connecting items together, making them hard to separate. But it actually comes from a tradition in the 18th century. Merchants selling fabric would attach a string at the bottom of a bolt of fabric if there was a flaw. When a tailor would purchase the fabric and wanted it flawless, they would ask for one with “no strings attached.” It turns out this is still a custom done today.

These days the phrase is used to imply that the proposed action or item will be given without expecting anything in return. Basically it is a true gift.

Christmas is coming faster than I could have anticipated, a time filled with gift-giving. Often, we forget about the Ultimate Gift due to all of the hustle and bustle that distracts us so easily. Before the season even starts, let’s remember to focus on the one true gift God gave us, flawless, no strings attached.