Should we keep old sayings – or are we flogging a dead horse?
IN the “Beat The Clock” segment of ITV’s legendary variety show “Sunday Night At The London Palladium”, contestants had 30 seconds to re-arrange random words attached to a magnetised board into a ‘Well Known Phrase Or Saying.’
For example. “NINE. IN. SAVES. STITCH. A. TIME.”
No, you work it out for yourself. “Beat The Clock” wouldn’t work today because so many phrases and sayings of the past are no longer wellknown, according to a new study commissioned by Perspective Global (Don’t ask me. I thought you might know who they are).
Many people they surveyed were unaware of sayings once commonly used in conversation – and some of you might still use them.
Let me ‘Nail my colours to the mast’ here – meaning I’m declaring it quite openly – I think it’s sad these quirky old saying are dying out,
Incidentally that particular saying originated in the 18th century when during nautical battles, ships would hang their colours (or flags) from their masts.
If the mast was damaged by enemy cannon balls, the captain would either lower the flag to show submission or hang what was left of the flag to the remnants of the rigging to clearly show he had no intention of surrendering. Hence ‘nailing his colours to the mast’.
I’m familiar with the expression, but according to the study an astonishing 70% of people questioned hadn’t, indicating they didn’t ‘know their onions’.
Anyone who does know their onions is well-informed and depending on your source of information the saying either refers to British lexicographer C T Onions who helped compile the Oxford English Dictionary in the 1960s or it was coined by an American literary magazine at the beginning of the 20th century.
If you know which version is correct, you’re not as daft as you’re cabbage looking.
That’s enough examples because a nod’s as good as a wink and I’ll keep my cards close to my chest and my powder dry.
I realise language changes over time, but we should retain these old sayings and ensure we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Cheerio. I’m off to see a man about a dog . . .