Born in a barn

This expression is a catchphrase that is usually shouted to people who leave doors open, usually the form of a question, “Were you born in a barn?” Then followed by an injunction to shut the door that has been left open. The expression dates from the late 19th century and derives from the notion that barn doors are generally left open so that animals can enter or leave, but this should not apply to houses where open doors can cause irritating draughts. There are those who believe the expression is a corruption of the old Lincolnshire saying, “Were you born in Bardney?” As unlikely as this may be, it is worth repeating just because it is a good story. Bardney in Lincolnshire is the site of Tupholme Abbey. When King and Saint Oswald of Northumbria was killed at the battle of Maserfield c. 642 , in a war between the Northumbrians and the Mercians, his followers tried to inter his bones at the abbey but the monks closed their doors to them. During the night, a miraculous pillar of light shone from the bones and convinced the monks that Oswald was indeed a saint and legend has it that they never closed their doors again. Thus the phrase, “Were you born in Bardney?” meaning that you never shut doors, developed. One cannot blame Lincolnshire folk for clinging to this charming story but it surely smacks of etymology that is more folkloric than scientific. Moreover, there is about a 1300-year gap between their story and the emergence of the catchphrase in the late 19th century. The most probable explanation of the origin comes simply from the fact that protocols applied to barns do not apply to houses.