Idioms that Need to be Retired

[audreyh1]

What is the origin of the saying that someone is getting rich at the expense of someone else?:

"He's lining his pockets."

Was used in Shakespeare’s Othello as “lining his purse” so at least 1600. Some other site mentioned mid-1500s without reference. Generally means accepting bribes or other ill-gotten gains.

These idioms can last for a looong time.

Easy to lookup phrase origins online.

 

[hausfrau]

I hope they never retire any of these idioms. I think it brings a richness to our language. And if you don't know what they mean, look 'em up! You might learn something new. I learned today what a poll tax was. I had to look it up

I totally agree. I find myself saying some old idiom and then I'll go look it up because I never knew the origin. The most recent I remember looking up is "dead to rights." I still find myself quoting Ben Franklin to my gen Z daughter.

 

[Winemaker]

I still use "Blind in One Eye...." but slightly different twist, "Deaf in one ear, cannot hear out of the other."

 

[audreyh1]

I totally agree. I find myself saying some old idiom and then I'll go look it up because I never knew the origin. The most recent I remember looking up is "dead to rights." I still find myself quoting Ben Franklin to my gen Z daughter.

I enjoy looking up word origins as well as phrase origins. For example, you wouldn’t believe how many English words are Greek. Once you notice the patterns they are easy to recognize.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Was used in Shakespeare’s Othello as “lining his purse” so at least 1600. Some other site mentioned mid-1500s without reference. Generally means accepting bribes or other ill-gotten gains.

These idioms can last for a looong time.

Easy to lookup phrase origins online.

I understand the meaning is to get rich by dishonest means. I was wondering the origin of the saying. There isn't much explanation in "it's the same as lining one's purse."

I was mulling "lining their pockets" over last night before falling asleep. In my half sleep state I concluded it had to do with trouser pockets becoming torn with age from carrying lots of coins in them. Therefore, they had to re-sew new linings in their pockets so their haul of money wouldn't fall out through holes. This same explanation could be used with purses torn from carrying too much money and needing to be lined with new fabric.

 

[GrayHare]

People used to shake gold coins in a purse in order to slowly scrape gold off the coins and line the purse with gold. Then they'd burn the purse and redeem the ill-gotten gold.

 

[Qs Laptop]

People used to shake gold coins in a purse in order to slowly scrape gold off the coins and line the purse with gold. Then they'd burn the purse and redeem the ill-gotten gold.

OK, another possible etymology for "lining their pockets." Seems like a lot of work when they could simply scrape a small amount off a gold coin with a sharp knife blade and then save the shavings instead of going to all the trouble of burning and distilling out the gold.

I believe the reason US coins originally had ribbed edges was to stop people from shaving gold off the circumference of the coins.

 

[Koolau]

No, it's "Situation Normal: All F'd Up"

That has been a common expression since WW II.

And it's often used in "polite" society, suggesting the original meaning has been lost to time. Another expression that in the late 60s was considered "impolite" was (for instance) "All screwed up." Now that phrase is used from the pulpit on Sunday morning religious TV. Meanings and connotations seem to morph over time. Interesting, though YMMV.

 

[Nightcap]

Idioms don’t have to be contemporary. Some of the most redolent are anachronisms. “Turn a blind eye” refers to Admiral Nelson. “Beat around the bush” was from game hunting. “Read the riot act” is one of my favorites, but the Riot Act was passed by Parliament in 1714.

There are obsolete phrases we use every day. “Turn out the light” refers to gas lights, which were extinguished by turning a petcock. “Dialing” the phone is still in the vernacular, as is “hanging up.”

Some of the oldies but goodies need to be retired just because they may be misunderstood - for a coon’s age, e.g. It was coined in the 1700s, and refers to the folk belief that raccoons are particularly long-lived, but someone may take offense today.

 

[NXR7]

Clockwise
Counterclockwise

 

[GaryInCO]

Clockwise
Counterclockwise

Beat me to it, by 7 minutes. I couldn't believe nobody said it yet!!

 

[Northforker]

Hold your horses
Simmer down
He's a few bricks shy of a load.
Her elevator doesnt go all the way up.
Signing off
Penny for your thoughts.

 

[GaryInCO]

clipping coupons (bonds)

 

[NXR7]

Beat me to it, by 7 minutes. I couldn't believe nobody said it yet!!

Haha, I know, right? I went through all six pages and thought exactly the same thing.

I recently had my annual Medicare Wellness check, as worthless as that is. He's giving me the cognitive test and says "Draw a clock and show all numbers."

I looked at him with a blank look.

He repeated himself, slower.

I said "I don't know how to draw a digital clock while showing all numbers. Was that the answer to your test?"

He took the paper back, drew a circle, and repeated himself.

I came "this close" to drawing a 24-hour clock.

 

[OldGuy]

Oh no…

Fubar
snfau

These will always belong to those of a certain age & survivors of a mis-spent youth…

 

[Northforker]

Take that with a grain of salt.
That and $.25 will get you cup of coffee.

 

[CardsFan]

That and $.25 will get you cup of coffee.

Yeah, That one needs to be retired.

 

[Andre1969]

Owe me a coke (might be local saying)

Funny, I just heard that one the other night on "Two and a Half Men" Charlie and Berta were both berating Alan, about something or other. At one point, both of them said practically the same thing in unison, and then Berta said to Charlie "Jinx! You owe me a Coke!"

 

[latexman]

How about . . . "I'm finer than snuff and not near as dusty!"

It means a person is feeling good.

 

[Andre1969]

I said "I don't know how to draw a digital clock while showing all numbers. Was that the answer to your test?"

I guess you could've drawn a rectangle with 88:88 in it, and written "AM" and "PM" on one side.

I think some of the fancier ones have "X's" through each of the spaces as well, so the numbers can be a bit less blocky.

 

[big-papa]

"dial into a meeting"

 

[mickeyd]

"Not to brag"...and then brag.

Oh, it's "poll tax". I thought it was "Pole Tax" and wondered why they were taxing eastern Europeans.

 

[rk911]

"dial into a meeting"

Just 'Dial Up...'.

How about 'dropped like a hot potato'?

 

[FloridaJim57]

At the end of the day; whatever; give it up for

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

How about 'dropped like a hot potato'?

I believe people STILL drop hot potatoes... at least I do!