Straw poll The first polls were elections held by counting heads, for pol, polle in Middle English simply meant “head.” One still goes to the polls to cast ballots in elections. The first so-called “straw” or unofficial polls were held in the United States in 1824. They consisted chiefly of man-in-the-street interviews or door-to-door canvassing by newspaper reporters. Since the mid-1930s, with debacle of the Literary Digest mail poll, which predicted a victory for Landon over Roosevelt, techniques have been greatly improved. Now, such polls as the Gallup, Harris and Roper surveys are used not only to gauge probable election results but also to test public reaction to new products and the like.

That's another one of those common sayings that I've said and heard without giving it much thought - Thanks.

And for those of us who didn't know: Snuff is a smokeless tobacco made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is inhaled or "snuffed" into the nasal cavity, delivering a swift hit of nicotine and a lasting flavoured scent (especially if flavouring has been blended with the tobacco). Was that the same as "take a powder"? Or was the powder something else?

That phrase now reminds me of the scene in Chinatown when Jack Nicholson has his nose slit. I've read several books about Irish history and a few mentioned that when the Danes controlled Ireland they did a 'nose' count and levied taxes accordingly. If you didn't pay on time they would 'slit your nose.' Most of the authors discounted the historical accuracy but it's still a part of Irish lore.