At long last, the fifth installment of your UTOTD. Today’s topic comes from a question received two weeks ago, to which Justine asks: “How about "basket case"?”
For some reason I was expecting to run into problems with this one, as I thought there would be several different origins of the phrase. However, the meaning as well as the origin of this phrase are widely accepted and published by very many reputable sources.
First, from Wikipedia:
“A person who is too impaired to function, or who feels that way. Originated as a phrase in World War I for soldiers who were so badly injured they had to be removed from the battle field on a wicker litter or basket. Has subsequently come to imply mental or emotional impairment ('she was a total basket case before the wedding'). Also used to refer to some malfunctioning mechanism.”
I thought, for sure, there had to be some other origin of this phrase that would have more to do with the way it is used to describe a mental state of mind. However, I was wrong.
Here is what Bartleby.com (American Heritage Dictionary) has to say on the matter:
“NOUN:1. Slang One that is in a completely hopeless or useless condition: “He immediately becomes a psychological basket case, embittered to the point of craziness” (New York). “After World War I, when the Hapsburg empire was split up, little Austria seemed a basket case” (Paul A. Samuelson). 2. Offensive Slang A person, especially a soldier, who has had all four limbs amputated.
OUR LIVING LANGUAGE: In popular usage basket case refers to someone in a hopeless mental condition, but in origin it had a physical meaning. In the grim slang of the British army during World War I, it referred to a quadruple amputee. This is one of several expressions that first became popular in World War I, or that entered American army slang from British English at that time. Some of these words reflect technical inventions and innovations of the time, such as parachute, blimp, tank, and bomber, and still have clear military associations. Others have lost most or all of their military connotations, such as ace, chow, slacker, and dud.”
Very interesting indeed. Still not satisfied, I tried to figure how exactly “basket case” came to describe a person in a compromise mental health state. To my surprise, Urban Dictionary.com came up with several different meanings…all very entertaining.
Enjoy!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thursday, October 05, 2006
UTOTD #4
Bonus edition! Thanks to Kelsie’s suggestions, I will be tackling the origins of two idioms today: “Par for the course” and “Get a word in edgewise.”
Par for the course
My research on Wikipedia came up empty on this one…not so much as a meaning, let alone the origin. So, onto handy dandy Google I go, where I found the very useful GoEnglish.com. No specific origin here, but a very handy definition:
""Par for the course" is what is normal and acceptable for a particular situation. Example: "I get sick every time I travel." Answer: "That's just par for the course." "Par" on a golf "course" is the average number of strokes a golfer needs to get the ball in all the holes; "par for the course" is what is usual and expected. Example: "Things don't always work out as we want in life, and that's just par for the course; we do our best and go on." We should not get too bothered when things happen that are par for the course, because they are regular parts of life."
By reading the definition, I can only surmise that the origin of this phrase goes hand in hand with the origin of the scoring system for golf, which is so complicated I won’t even get into it right now. Suffice to say, the rules of golf were first put into writing by the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in 1744 for the Annual Challenge for the Edinburgh Silver Club. (about.com, “History of Golf FAQ”). Oh, and there were 13 of them.
Countless google searches yielded nothing to offer by way of the origin of the phrase. And one very promising link (The Phrase Finder) ended up being out of date or broken. I got the dreaded “file not found” error. Oh well.
On to the next challenge:
Get a word in edgewise
Usually this phrase is used in the negative, as is, “can’t get a word in edgewise.” I found a very useful site, “Origin of Phrases,” that yielded this result:
"Meaning: Unable to break into a conversation, no pause in a discussion. Example: Don't you guys ever shut up? I can't get a word in edgewise. Origin: If you can imagine a string of continuous printed text, and a single word attempting to wedge its way into that text. The easiest way to find space for that word would be to turn that word on its edge, to make it very thin, as in the profile of a printed word. If you can't get the word in edgewise, then there must be no break or room in the text or conversation."
Now, how reliable that is, is beyond me, as I noticed it is an AOL members website. I’m not knocking the guy/gal that put this together, or the contributors, just questioning the validity of the statements. So, I went back to GoEnglish.com to see what they had to say. Oh, I see…NOTHING. Well, phooey on them!
Ok, phooey on everyone. It seems “can’t get a word in edgewise” isn’t a popular enough idiom or phrase to have its origin or meaning on any webpage that I’ve visited. So thanks to the AOL members and contributors of “Origins of Phrases” for being the only source I can find on this elusive phrase!
Par for the course
My research on Wikipedia came up empty on this one…not so much as a meaning, let alone the origin. So, onto handy dandy Google I go, where I found the very useful GoEnglish.com. No specific origin here, but a very handy definition:
""Par for the course" is what is normal and acceptable for a particular situation. Example: "I get sick every time I travel." Answer: "That's just par for the course." "Par" on a golf "course" is the average number of strokes a golfer needs to get the ball in all the holes; "par for the course" is what is usual and expected. Example: "Things don't always work out as we want in life, and that's just par for the course; we do our best and go on." We should not get too bothered when things happen that are par for the course, because they are regular parts of life."
By reading the definition, I can only surmise that the origin of this phrase goes hand in hand with the origin of the scoring system for golf, which is so complicated I won’t even get into it right now. Suffice to say, the rules of golf were first put into writing by the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in 1744 for the Annual Challenge for the Edinburgh Silver Club. (about.com, “History of Golf FAQ”). Oh, and there were 13 of them.
Countless google searches yielded nothing to offer by way of the origin of the phrase. And one very promising link (The Phrase Finder) ended up being out of date or broken. I got the dreaded “file not found” error. Oh well.
On to the next challenge:
Get a word in edgewise
Usually this phrase is used in the negative, as is, “can’t get a word in edgewise.” I found a very useful site, “Origin of Phrases,” that yielded this result:
"Meaning: Unable to break into a conversation, no pause in a discussion. Example: Don't you guys ever shut up? I can't get a word in edgewise. Origin: If you can imagine a string of continuous printed text, and a single word attempting to wedge its way into that text. The easiest way to find space for that word would be to turn that word on its edge, to make it very thin, as in the profile of a printed word. If you can't get the word in edgewise, then there must be no break or room in the text or conversation."
Now, how reliable that is, is beyond me, as I noticed it is an AOL members website. I’m not knocking the guy/gal that put this together, or the contributors, just questioning the validity of the statements. So, I went back to GoEnglish.com to see what they had to say. Oh, I see…NOTHING. Well, phooey on them!
Ok, phooey on everyone. It seems “can’t get a word in edgewise” isn’t a popular enough idiom or phrase to have its origin or meaning on any webpage that I’ve visited. So thanks to the AOL members and contributors of “Origins of Phrases” for being the only source I can find on this elusive phrase!
UTOTD #3
Ok, so I'm cheating just a bit today. Since it is nearly time to socialize today (3pm...my SIL is coming over in a little bit), I am forgoing a full UTOTD entry in lieu of this clever link I discovered on my.yahoo.com page today.
Enjoy! Blufr A neat little trivia site, see if you get bluffed or not!
Enjoy! Blufr A neat little trivia site, see if you get bluffed or not!
UTOTD #2
I told you it wouldn’t be long before the next UTOTD popped up. I am borrowing this one from Rachel Ray…its one of her favorite useless facts to share during her show, “30 Minute Meals;” which, incidentally, Vic says I have an unhealthy obsession with, yet I don’t hear him complaining when he’s enjoying these meals.
Today’s topic:
Oregano
Oregano is a very popular herb used in both Greek and Italian cooking. Being of Italian decent, I happen to be very familiar with it. I put it in nearly everything from soups and sauces to morning eggs. Now, whenever Rachel Ray uses oregano on her show, she always mentions the Greek/Italian culinary significance as well as the fact that “oregano” means, “joy of the mountains.” This fun fact piqued my interest, so I did a little research.
Oregano does, in fact, mean “joy of the mountains” (not that I doubted you, Rachel!), however, Wikipedia (my favorite new past time) doesn’t say from what language that originated from. Being the thorough (and bored) researcher that I am, I investigate further and found this definition from Online Etymology Dictionary:
oregano
1771, from Sp./Sp. Amer. oregano, from L. origanus, origanum, from Gk. oreiganon, from oros "mountain" (see oread) + ganos "brightness, ornament." The older form of the word in Eng. was the L.-derived origanum (c.1265), also origan (c.1420). In Europe, the dried leaves of wild marjoram; in America, a different, and more pungent, shrub.
Mystery solved, it is, in fact, of Greek origin.
And something else I didn’t know about oregano, it is related to marjoram and there is a Mexican oregano.
Oregano is considered an condito sine qua non in Italian cuisine, which means, “without which it could not be ("but for").” Here is the direct quote from Wikipedia:
“Sine qua non or conditio sine qua non was originally a Latin legal term for "without which it could not be" ("but for"). It refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient. In recent times it has passed from a merely legal usage to a more general usage in many languages, including English, German, French, Italian, etc. In Classical Latin the form conditio would be condicio. The phrase is also used in economics.”
There, two useless facts for the price of one! Enjoy your oregano…it’s good for you too:
“Health benefits
Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, particularly due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids (PMID 16218659, PMID 12730411). Additionally, oregano has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes (PMID 16218659). Both of these characteristics may be useful in both health and food preservation.” (Wikipedia, “oregano”)
Today’s topic:
Oregano
Oregano is a very popular herb used in both Greek and Italian cooking. Being of Italian decent, I happen to be very familiar with it. I put it in nearly everything from soups and sauces to morning eggs. Now, whenever Rachel Ray uses oregano on her show, she always mentions the Greek/Italian culinary significance as well as the fact that “oregano” means, “joy of the mountains.” This fun fact piqued my interest, so I did a little research.
Oregano does, in fact, mean “joy of the mountains” (not that I doubted you, Rachel!), however, Wikipedia (my favorite new past time) doesn’t say from what language that originated from. Being the thorough (and bored) researcher that I am, I investigate further and found this definition from Online Etymology Dictionary:
oregano
1771, from Sp./Sp. Amer. oregano, from L. origanus, origanum, from Gk. oreiganon, from oros "mountain" (see oread) + ganos "brightness, ornament." The older form of the word in Eng. was the L.-derived origanum (c.1265), also origan (c.1420). In Europe, the dried leaves of wild marjoram; in America, a different, and more pungent, shrub.
Mystery solved, it is, in fact, of Greek origin.
And something else I didn’t know about oregano, it is related to marjoram and there is a Mexican oregano.
Oregano is considered an condito sine qua non in Italian cuisine, which means, “without which it could not be ("but for").” Here is the direct quote from Wikipedia:
“Sine qua non or conditio sine qua non was originally a Latin legal term for "without which it could not be" ("but for"). It refers to an indispensable and essential action, condition, or ingredient. In recent times it has passed from a merely legal usage to a more general usage in many languages, including English, German, French, Italian, etc. In Classical Latin the form conditio would be condicio. The phrase is also used in economics.”
There, two useless facts for the price of one! Enjoy your oregano…it’s good for you too:
“Health benefits
Oregano is high in antioxidant activity, particularly due to a high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids (PMID 16218659, PMID 12730411). Additionally, oregano has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes (PMID 16218659). Both of these characteristics may be useful in both health and food preservation.” (Wikipedia, “oregano”)
Useless Trivia of the Day #1
In an effort to fill my long and boring days, I have decided to create a new feature on the blog. I figure, I've got nothing but time, so I might as well look up some interesting things from time to time. So, today, I bring the first installment of Useless Trivia of the Day. Today we shall tackle the origin of the idiom, "Mind your p's and q's."
Mind your p's and q's
Early today I was on the phone with SIL and, as usual, our conversation went on its rambling way and out of no where (or at least it seems that way now) I said, "Mind your p's and q's." We both now what it "means" but neither of us could remember what the p and q stand for, if anything. So I mentioned I would look it up and let her know, since she was on her way to school and had no internet access. Thus this entry and "Useless Trivia of the Day" (UTOTD) was born.
So, in my infinite amount of free time (and yes, I wish I was being sarcastic) I plugged "p's and q's" into Wikipedia and it yeilded...nothing. "No page with that title ("mind your p's and q's") exists. At first I was crest fallen...but as I scrolled down I discovered: List of idioms in the English Language.
Ah HA! Success! So, here is what wikipedia has to say about the origin of the idiom, "mind your p's and q's":
"To be very careful and/or to behave correctly. It is tied to the fact that the lowercase letters "p" and "q" mirror each other. This is a term from typesetters in the printing industry. In the days of lead type, letters were set individually into a page, and they were placed one by one, upside down. They were pulled from a typecase, in which each letter had a designated space to reside. Problems came when pages were being taken apart and letters put away. If someone was in a hurry or was not paying attention to what he was doing, he could end up with p's and q's in the wrong slots in the typecase, which he wouldn't notice until the next time he was putting together a page, when he would unknowingly pick out the wrong letter. (This could also happen with b's and d's, but as they are more common than q's, typesetters were more accustomed to finding them, and they were mixed up less often.) Hence, pay attention to what you're doing now, so that you don't give yourself problems later on. Alternatively, in England this phrase is also associated with "p'ease" and "'k you" baby talk for 'Please' and 'Thank you', hence "Mind your P's and Q's" is sometimes used to mean "Remember to say 'Please' and 'Thank you.'" Another less widely accepted origin of this phrase purports to have originated in England where, when patrons at a bar were becoming unruly, the bartender would remind them to, "Mind your pints and quarts." This has been shortened to the phrase, "Mind your P's and Q's.""
Less you think I am not being thorough, I also plugged "p's and q's" into my handy-dandy Google tool bar and it came up with lots of sites. Most of which said the same thing that wikipedia did, so I will spare you the redundancy.
I hope enjoyed the first installment of UTOTD...I have a funny feeling the next one won't be too far behind. Also, should you have a random question, feel free to ask. Lord knows I am at a loss of things to fill my day with. :)
Mind your p's and q's
Early today I was on the phone with SIL and, as usual, our conversation went on its rambling way and out of no where (or at least it seems that way now) I said, "Mind your p's and q's." We both now what it "means" but neither of us could remember what the p and q stand for, if anything. So I mentioned I would look it up and let her know, since she was on her way to school and had no internet access. Thus this entry and "Useless Trivia of the Day" (UTOTD) was born.
So, in my infinite amount of free time (and yes, I wish I was being sarcastic) I plugged "p's and q's" into Wikipedia and it yeilded...nothing. "No page with that title ("mind your p's and q's") exists. At first I was crest fallen...but as I scrolled down I discovered: List of idioms in the English Language.
Ah HA! Success! So, here is what wikipedia has to say about the origin of the idiom, "mind your p's and q's":
"To be very careful and/or to behave correctly. It is tied to the fact that the lowercase letters "p" and "q" mirror each other. This is a term from typesetters in the printing industry. In the days of lead type, letters were set individually into a page, and they were placed one by one, upside down. They were pulled from a typecase, in which each letter had a designated space to reside. Problems came when pages were being taken apart and letters put away. If someone was in a hurry or was not paying attention to what he was doing, he could end up with p's and q's in the wrong slots in the typecase, which he wouldn't notice until the next time he was putting together a page, when he would unknowingly pick out the wrong letter. (This could also happen with b's and d's, but as they are more common than q's, typesetters were more accustomed to finding them, and they were mixed up less often.) Hence, pay attention to what you're doing now, so that you don't give yourself problems later on. Alternatively, in England this phrase is also associated with "p'ease" and "'k you" baby talk for 'Please' and 'Thank you', hence "Mind your P's and Q's" is sometimes used to mean "Remember to say 'Please' and 'Thank you.'" Another less widely accepted origin of this phrase purports to have originated in England where, when patrons at a bar were becoming unruly, the bartender would remind them to, "Mind your pints and quarts." This has been shortened to the phrase, "Mind your P's and Q's.""
Less you think I am not being thorough, I also plugged "p's and q's" into my handy-dandy Google tool bar and it came up with lots of sites. Most of which said the same thing that wikipedia did, so I will spare you the redundancy.
I hope enjoyed the first installment of UTOTD...I have a funny feeling the next one won't be too far behind. Also, should you have a random question, feel free to ask. Lord knows I am at a loss of things to fill my day with. :)
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