Do Your Research

Here’s a phrase we hear all of the time: “Do your research.” We hear it so often, uttered from folks on our side of the fence at least, that it has taken on the same sort of popularity as phrases like “mind your p’s and q’s” or “watch your mouth” or “be careful what you wish for.” It seems more related to phrases like “use your common sense” or “follow your gut.” All these are rather ancient expressions, and although I don’t know their etiology, I would bet they have been around a while. Most people know what they mean because most of them need no explanation (do you know what a “p” and a “q” is in order to properly “mind” them? Probably not, but you more than likely do know what the saying implies).