What Does It Mean? A sore, hoarse throat. Where Does It Come From? The accepted explanation is that this is an American phrase which came into common use in the 19th century, coined purely because you feel slimy and sound croaky when your throat is sore or full of phlegm. But that's really boring, so we'll go with some good old folk etymology on this one. It's safe to say that they had slightly more unconventional ways of treating illness a few centuries ago than they do now, which is probably the reason for one heavily disputed explanation of this phrase's origin. Once upon a time, doctors are said to have believed that a frog's bodily fluids were a miracle cure for any croaking or soreness, and therefore would place a frog in the sufferer's mouth until they felt that the symptoms had begun to wane. Eww. So, if Strepsils just won't cut it next time you've got a touch of hoarseness, why not try sucking on a frog instead?
Stephanie is a writer and free spirit who likes to pretend she's a Londoner, though strictly speaking she's from Watford. She likes books, music, elephants, and hairspray.
