How did the phrase "thank your lucky stars" originate?
by 
Egao No Genki
ANSWERS: 4
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Quoting from "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable": "The stars were said by the old astrologers to have an almost omnipotent influence on the lives and destinies of man (cp. Judges V, 20: "The stars in their courses fought against Sisera"), and to this belief is due a number of phrases as: Bless my stars ; You may thank your lucky stars ; star-crossed (not favoured by the stars, unfortunate) ; to be born under an unlucky star, etc."
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Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable- "The stars were said by the old astrologers to have an almost omnipotent influence on the lives and destinies of man and to this belief is due a number of phrases as: Bless my stars ; You may thank your lucky stars ; star-crossed (not favoured by the stars, unfortunate) ; to be born under an unlucky star, etc."
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It has become a meaningless statement in today's overuse of cliché filled messages, along with "knock on wood", but the origin was a genuine expression of people who believed in astrology.
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Falling stars are also regarded as significant in astrology: Go and catch a falling star, Get with child a mandrake root, Tell me where all past years are, Or who cleft the devil's foot John Donne (1572-1631) Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket Save it for a rainy day Words and Music by Lee Pockriss and Paul Vance Perry Como original single recording 1957 http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/28/messages/726.html Lucky Stars: Use Astrology to Get the Scoop on Life, Love, and Friendship by Amanda Owen http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Stars-Astrology-Scoop-Friendship/dp/0609806874
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