Mike Netter
@nettermike
The Rest Of The Story… These knife grinders in the cutlery-making center of Thiers, France circa 1902 had the nickname of "ventres jaunes" or 'yellow stomachs' and 'yellow bellies' referring to the yellow dust released by the grinding wheels…
By laying face down, these yellow stomachs would save their backs from being hunched over all day.
Workers were encouraged to bring their dogs to not only keep them company but to act as heaters to keep them warm by having the dogs lie on their legs.
This is where the phrase, "Nose to the grindstone." originated.
9:02 PM CDT · Mar 27, 2026 · 1,526 Views
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