The origin of the term going to the dogs is in question. Origin: “[This phrase] originated in the days of slave galleys. How to use berserk in a sentence. Berserk definition is - an ancient Scandinavian warrior frenzied in battle and held to be invulnerable. Going overboard means to do too much, go over the top in excess. The latter developed both because ballistic missiles reached great heights and because they were prone to loss of control early in flight. Their sources though could hardly be further apart. The origin of this use is obscure; the allusion appears to be to commandos’ reputation for action, toughness, or resourcefulness rather than to any specific practice. So, we have a possible origin for the phrase, though not necessarily one that seems to jive with the common understanding. Origin: The phrase originally meant ‘swift and brutal murder’, and was first used in Macbeth. Instead, it means: go west, young man: used as an encouragement to seek fortune in the American West; also in extended use. If you’ve ever asked similar questions, you’ll enjoy these word and phrase origins. Ivor, London. The origin of the term go to hell in a handbasket is unknown, the assumption is that the word handbasket is a good source of alliteration. The slang phrase to go commando means to wear no underpants beneath one’s clothing.. The origin of English place names. The origin of the phrase ‘hell in a handbasket’ can be found in the practice of capturing the heads of guillotine victims in a basket, with the presumption being that these criminals would be going straight to hell for their crimes. To keep the oarsmen rowing in unison, a drummer beat time rhythmically on a block of wood. Example of use: Matt went overboard when he spent so much money on my birthday present. I'd never heard it before he said it in 1995. A This is a weird one, which has puzzled and confused many writers. What is the origin of the phrase "to go apeshit"? Evidence for the phrase can be found in a Galveston, Texas newspaper in 1891–92. See more. ... called the Flying Scud in which a character makes the excuse that he is going 'to see a man about a dog' to get away. “That the cow ordinance is going to paint the town red before it ceases to protest and make trouble.” If the phrase originated from Henry’s anecdote in 1837, then why did it take until 1882 (nearly five decades later) for it to start appearing in print? However, it can also be used more lightheartedly, as in this recent Business Insider headline: "I was addicted to dating apps, so I quit cold turkey." One theory is that food that had rotted and was not fit for human consumption was thrown to the dogs. Example: Maria’s restaurant has done well over the years, but her customer base has dried up recently. The origin of the phrase "to go Dutch" is traced back to the 17th century when England and... How did "Go Dutch" originate? Share. Where did we get the term ‘flea market’? Right or wrong, t The earliest example we’ve found (“going berserk”) is from the April 6, 1894, issue of the Aspen (CO) Daily Times: “He never had the gold or diamond or colonial fever; instead of going berserk, he evidently preferred a frock coat and patent leathers.” (From an anonymous short story, “The Panic.” Meaning: “Go for broke” is a phrase that means a person is putting forth effort to accomplish something, and there is an implied risk that if things go wrong, the person might experience loss in some way. Without the Vikings, English would be missing some awesome words like berserk, muck, skull, knife, and cake! Berserk definition, violently or destructively frenzied; wild; crazed; deranged: He suddenly went berserk. Origin: This phrase comes from Greek mythology, where Thetis dipped her son Achilles in the Styx, a river that was believed to be a source of incredible power and invulnerability. Hotels are apparently a favored stomping ground for the so-called "Soho Karen" who falsely accused a black teen of stealing her iPhone in a violent, caught-on-video confrontation in Manhattan. On the other hand, “large” means the wind is coming from behind. For me, this suggests that the origin of the phrase … The Oxford English Dictionary (OED – 2 nd edition, 1989) explains:. What is the origin of the phrase "pear shaped"? In Psalm 17:8 the writer asks God 'keep me as the apple of your eye'. It originated in the USA, apparently as a motto adopted by football coaches. Nick , London UK. This phrase also comes from the Bible. The first part of the phrase refers to the nautical term “full and by,” meaning a boat was traveling into the wind. Did You Know? A lot of the English language seems to have been developed as some kind of elaborate practical joke. However, Thethis was holding her son by his heel, meaning it was the only part of his body … The Whirling Dervishes seem to be going berserk. Origin: This term has something in common with 'run amok'. Back to Phrase of the Day Going Overboard. It's full of little sayings and idioms that on their face make no sense at all, and if traced back to their origins are downright horrifying. Interesting fact. The site has become a favorite resource of teachers of reading, spelling, and English as a second language. It isn’t known who exactly started the phrase “going postal” but what is clear is that it was already a common phrase among Americans at that time. But, if that is the going ham origin point, it’s probably the first or only time in history that a bunch of “cool” rappers stole a phrase from nerdy ham radio operators. Interesting fact. What is the origin of ‘quiz’? According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the meaning of telling someone to "go west" is not related to the phrase "going south". When it was time to rest or change shifts, he would give a special knock, signifying that they could knock off.” (From Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins Vol.2, by William and Mary Morris) Origin: In the olden days, when doctors were short on anesthesia or time during a battle, they would ask the patient to bite down on a bullet to distract from the pain. Intrigue and Unsolved Mysteries. An example usage would be: And then he went apeshit over the prize he just won. The association of go with postal to indicate violence comes from similar crazy phrases: go berserk (1908), go crazy (1930), and go ballistic (1971). The stereotype was undoubtedly due to several incidents involving postal workers from 1986 to 1993. This is K•H•A•M, signing off. Macduff utters the words on hearing of the death of his wife and children. ... Apeshit can therefore be traced to ape (in the "going ape" sense), just as batshit can be traced to batty or bats. The two phrases, as well as sounding rather similar, mean virtually the same thing. Word and Phrase Origins. The expression “go bananas” is slang, and the origin is a bit harder to pin down. On the serious side, the phrase is often used when the quitting brings physical symptoms of withdrawal, as with heroin or other highly addictive drugs. The first recorded use of the phrase was in 1891 in The Light that Failed. The phrase when the going gets tough, the tough get(s) going, means pressure or adversity acts as a stimulus to the person(s) of strong character.. It was my mate Joe who said it first!! That explains hell, as the ultimate bad destination, but why a handbasket, of all things? - innovateus.net Improve this answer. The author O. Henry—who spent many years in Texas, where he may have picked up the expression—used cut the mustard in his 1907 collection of short stories The Heart of the West : “I looked around and found a proposition that exactly cut the mustard.” Here's our list of Old Norse words in English. … Not surprisingly, the origin of the idiom “go overboard” is nautical. Q From Brian Walker: Can you please tell me anything about the origin of the phrase going to hell in a handbasket?. Berserk definition: Berserk means crazy and out of control. The phrase go to hell in a handbasket is an American phrase which came into general use during the American Civil War, though its popularity has spread into other countries. All four basically mean the same thing. 'Run amok' derives from the Far East, whereas 'go berserk' is of Viking (Norse) origin. The meaning is clear enough, that some situation is getting rapidly out of hand and is going downhill fast. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone. What is the origin of the phrase . Going to the dogs describes something on the downgrade, something that is worse than it used to be, something that is deteriorating. But where the heck did it come from? Break the ice. The online etymology dictionary is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. Strangely, the exact origin, or the moment when the phrase “It is what it is” was first coined, cannot be pinpointed. This is the origin of 'going berserk". TIL that the phrase "going berserk" comes from the Norse "berserker": a word used to describe a group of wild, frenzied warriors who were said to have drawn their tremendous power and … | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples B. 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