Delicious Phrases - Day 4

DAY 4 - A real ham

The common term for someone guilty of overacting comes from actors. Low-grade minstrel actors often didn’t have the cash to spring for cold cream, so they resorted to applying ham fat to their faces before they put their make-up on. The fat was a viable substitute as it made removing makeup after a gig a whole lot easier. Consequently, the facial application became permanently connected to the actors who wore it.