Lick into shapeThe wild, mistaken belief behind this popular idiom.

From the show

History of Phrases

This common idiom for imposing discipline has its roots in a completely false, but fascinating, medieval belief about animal birth. It was thought that bear cubs were born as formless lumps, and the mother bear had to physically lick them into their proper shape. While biologically untrue, this powerful image of molding the raw into the refined became a metaphor that has lasted for centuries.