Let’s talk about this “Frank” guy.
Yeah… that Frank.
The one everybody suddenly wants to be right before they drop a truth bomb in your lap.
You know the line: “Can I be Frank?”
Which basically translates to:
“Hey, brace yourself, because I’m about to tell you something you didn’t ask for and may not enjoy.”
So who IS this Frank?
Some guardian angel of honesty?
Some dude wandering around forcing people to tell the truth like a medieval emotional-support referee?
Honestly… maybe.
Because this Frank fellow?
He’s an optimist.
A man of courage.
A warrior of “I’m just telling you because I care.”
He shows up with honesty even when honesty is wearing steel-toed boots.
Does it hurt sometimes? Sure.
Does Frank care? Absolutely not.
He’s here for truth, not comfort.
So naturally, I went digging.
Who was this mysterious hero of unfiltered honesty?
And here’s what I found:
Frank… isn’t a guy.
Not even close.
Turns out the Franks (plural!) were a Germanic tribe whose name meant free people.
Freedom → openness → honesty → “to be frank.”
So the phrase basically means “Can I be honest and free with you?”
Not “Can I channel a dude named Frank who lives in accounting and brings tuna sandwiches to meetings?”
Tragic, I know.
No actual Frank.
No parade.
Not even a statue.
But then I thought — okay, if that phrase comes from history, what about the others we toss around?
Like “Let the cat out of the bag.”
Christmas is coming, secrets are brewing, and every family has at least one person who can’t hold water, much less a Christmas surprise.
So where’d THAT phrase come from?
Was there literally a cat?
In a literal bag?
And did some idiot literally let it out?
Yes.
Yes, indeed.
Scams, by the way, are not new.
They didn’t start with robocalls or that prince from Nigeria who still hasn’t gotten his inheritance due to banks needing YOU to assist him.
Back in medieval markets, farmers sold piglets in bags.
Except the shady farmers (because of course there were shady farmers) swapped the pig with a cheap, useless cat.
Buyer opens the bag — SURPRISE!
Secret exposed.
Cat out. Pig missing. Trust issues activated.
No refunds – no returns.
So here’s the score:
- No real Frank.
- Very real cat.
- Humanity has been getting scammed since forever.
And now you know.
And as always, if you happen to win Final Jeopardy because of something you found here – a shout out would be nice.
My Take on Life and Events 