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Your comments and questions:
Q: Virginia writes: 'Kel, we constantly hear politicians referring to "have a conversation" and not "have a discussion or discuss". I always understood there was a subtle difference between conversation and discussion. Am I incorrect in this understanding?'
A: Both came into English from Latin via French around the 13th century. Any difference between them is so small and so subtle as to be insignificant. If anything, 'discussion' was a slightly more legal term, while 'conversation' meant something more informal.
Q: Harvey writes from West Australian about the Native Title Act, and the meaning of the word 'native.'
A: 'Native' came into English from a source word in the 1400s -- the Latin word is nātīvus --meaning having your birth or origin in a particular place. So, the name of the Native Title Act refers to SOME Australian natives, but not to ALL Australian natives.
Q: Julie writes -- 'Can you please give the correct pronunciation of the word yoghurt. The British pronounce the 'o' as the short vowel. The Oxford Dictionary pronounces the 'o' as the long vowel. Which is correct??'
A: Actually, the Oxford also recommends the short vowel -- YOG-uht. And the Oxford goes on to say the long vowel (YOG-uht) belongs only in America.
Q: Margaret writes, 'I am interested to know why money is called “dough”. '
A: This started as American slang in the mid 1800s. It is simply because bread is the most basic food necessity for even the poorest in the western world. (In the east it's rice.) You need money for bread, or you starve, hence money is called 'dough.' And in the common saying 'bread is the staff of life' -- an expression which comes from a couple of references in the Old Testament part of the Bible.
Q: Mike writes: 'can you please explain the term "Black hole of Calcutta"?
A: It's now used metaphorically but originally it meant the punishment cell at the barracks in Fort William, Calcutta, in which, on 19 June 1756, after the fall of the fort, 64 British and Anglo-Indian soldiers and civilians were confined overnight in crowded conditions, only 21 surviving until the morning -- the rest died.
Q: Hi Kel, I just wondered where the expression “break a leg” originates? Obviously, it is intended to wish luck rather than harm but seems a little counterintuitive. Thank you, Aileen,
A: It started at theatrical slang, recoded from around 1925. The semantic motivation is unclear; the likeliest explanation is that, according to theatrical superstition, it is considered unlucky to say the words ‘good luck’ to a performer.
Q: John writes " Hi Kel, in cricket you will often hear the commentators describe the batsman as being out plumb. Where did this word plumb come from?"
A: 'Plumb' has meant 'straight' since about 1424. It comes from the idea of a plumb line being a line that goes straight down. The word 'plumb' comes from the Latin word for lead -- since originally plumb lines were weighed down by a piece of lead.
Q: Lindsay writes: 'could you provide some info on the saying to be "let off the hook".'
A: "Off the hook" meaning "out of a difficult situation" is American in origin and is recorded from 1864. If you are in a difficult situation you are "caught" hence the image of being 'hooked' -- and if you get out of it you are "off the hook."
Q: Judy asks: Where did the phrase ‘Albatross around your neck’ originate. And what does it refer to?
A: From Coleridge's 1798 poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner." The mariner brings bad luck on his ship by killing an albatross. His shipmate's hang the albatross around his neck as a penance. So anything from our past that continues to haunt us is "an albatross around our necks."
'Q: Alvin asks: Where did “thick as two bricks” originate??
A: Began by describing a stupid person as being "thick" -- the image being that instead of thinking grey matter their heads we just thick bone all the way through. This goes back to 1857. In the 20th century comparisons started to be made between thick people and other thick things (bricks, short planks, and so on). In 1972 Jethro Tull had an album called "Thick as a Brick." Thick as two bricks is just an extension.
Q: After my piece about Dagwood Sandwiches, Daniel wrote to ask about the classic American Rueben sandwich.
A: The Reuben is a grilled sandwich with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing. It's grilled between slices of rye bread--and is a favourite at New York kosher delicatessens. One origin story holds that Reuben Kulakofsky (a Lithuanian-born Jewish grocer) in Omaha, Nebraska. Another account holds that the Reuben's creator was Arnold Reuben (the German-Jewish Delicatessen in New York City).
Q: Gai asks for the origin of "fly on the wall."
A: "Fly on the wall" means an unperceived observer; one who is able to overhear discussions, without being observed or involved. It first appeared in print in 1949, in Nancy Mitford's book Love in a Cold Climate --but presumably it was part of the spoken language long before that. It is not known who coined the metaphor (which is a striking image!) but one linguist claims it is American, and claims to have found a very early appearance of the expression in The Oakland Tribune in California as early as 1921. So far the rest of the lexicographical world has not been persuaded.
Q: Aileen writes: 'what is the origin of the expression “to be a guinea pig””? I don’t even know why they are called guinea pigs!!!'
A: The "guinea' part comes from the country called "Guinea" on the west coast of Africa. But despite this name, guinea pigs are not native to Guinea. They are small rodents from the Andean region of South America. When the name was first applied (from about 1664) their origin was unknown -- except that they came from some distant foreign shore. So, the 'guinea' part may have started as a guess. As for the 'pig' part, thin e Oxford says, 'Perhaps the animal was thought to resemble the young of the Guinea Hog.' And because guinea pigs have been used by scientists for experiments so often, people can be called 'guinea pigs' if something new is being tried out on them,
Q: Lindsay wants to know why "Fido" is often used (or used to be used) as a dog's name. It's an odd word -- so where does it come from?
A: "Fido" probably comes from the Latin word for "trust." Our dogs trust us implicitly, and, equally farmers will tell you that working dogs are utterly trustworthy. So, I am assuming a Latin scholar in generations past thought that adapting the Latin word for trust into a dog's name was appropriate. The Latin word is fiducia.
Q: Peter asks where "jaunty" comes from and what (exactly) it means?
A: What's interesting here is how the meaning of the word has changed over the years. Now we use 'jaunty' to mean "happy and confident" -- but when it first came into English (from a French source word) in the 1600s it meant "a well-bred gentleman." (Which is what the French source word also meant.) Why did it change? Perhaps we decided that the sign of a well-bred gentleman was that he was happy and confident? Or perhaps we just ran out of well-bred gentlemen but liked the word and wanted to keep it? Either is possible.
Q: Carol asks -- how did the name of a weapon, namely a 'battle-axe' come to be applied to (some) old ladies?
A: The name of the weapon goes back to the 1300s. And, clearly, an axe used in a battle is fearsome weapon. The slang usage arose in America -- where it's first recorded in 1896. Why did that happen? It appears that some old ladies struck fear into the hearts of others (mostly their sons-in-law) -- hence they were given the name of the most fearsome weapon from the medieval world.
Q: David writes to complain about the common mispronunciation of the 8th letter of the alphabet. He is annoyed by people who called it 'HAITCH' and wants my comment.
A: David is correct, and all the HAITCH people are wrong. There is no aspirant in the name of the letter. The only correct pronunciation is 'AITCH' -- spelled A-I-T-C-H. And under that spelling it is listed in all the major dictionaries. No dictionary recognises the ugly 'HAITCH" pronunciation.
Q: Sue asks: "Please advise the correct pronunciation of E-N-V-O-Y: is it en-voy or on-voy?
A: It came into English in the 1600s from a French word meaning 'messenger.' The Oxford accepts both pronunciations -- but it lists first (and therefore prefers) EN-voy. The alternative (ON-voy) obviously preserves the original French pronunciation, but, since we are speaking English I agree with the Oxford, and we should go with EN-voy.
Q: Tiffy says she heard the word 'tomfoolery' used at the Logies, and asks where it comes from?
A: It goes back to the 1500s when a stupid or foolish person was called a 'Tom Fool' (as if it were a proper name). Behaving in that manner is 'tomfoolery.'
Q: Jay asks for the origin of the word 'laconic.'
A: It comes from ancient Greece and is supposed to be the name of a person -- Laconicus, king of Sparta. There is only a brief account of him in the Roman historian Livy -- and even that is not thought to be reliable. But if he really existed, he must have been a close-mouthed man who said little. The Gary Cooper of his day.
Q: Leo asks for the meaning of "scintilla" and from where it is derived?
A: 'scintilla' means a very small amount of something. It's recorded in English from around 1661. It comes from an identical classical Latin word meaning 'a small spark from a fire.' If you've ever gathered around an open fire, or a campfire, you'll know that there are tiny sparks which fly out -- and they are the source of our English word 'scintilla.'
Q: Gordon writes: “In Texas, the Republican governor is re-drawing electoral boundaries, and the Democrats are accusing him of creating a ‘gerrymander’—where did that strange word come from?”
A: Redrawing electoral boundaries is called ‘redistricting’ in America, because Congressional seats are called ‘districts’ rather than electorates (as we would). ‘Gerrymander’ means distorting these electoral boundaries to favour one party over another. This word was coined by the editor of a Massachusetts newspaper (the Columbian Centinel) in 1812. New boundaries are drawn by the Governor of Massachusetts, Eldridge Gerry .One new district was so oddly shaped that it looked like a salamander, but the editor said that since it was created by Eldridge Gerry it must be a ‘gerrymander.’ His joke caught on, and his word became part of the language.
Q: Rodney asks: " What is the origin of 'blue murder'?"
A: This goes back to the early 1800s to describe a cry or scream of alarm or terror. Using colours as metaphors for emotion is probably as old as human language: white with rage, green with jealousy, seeing red, and tickled pink. Connecting 'blue' with 'murder' is a way of suggesting a howl of anger and anguish. The Oxford suggests this connection may have been suggested by the French word morbleu which means 'by thunder' -- also a cry or exclamation.
Q: Margaret asks: "What is the history of Umpire vs Referee."
A: 'Umpire' is very old (1400s) and comes from a French source word meaning "without equal, surpassing all others." In English it was very quickly adopted to mean "one whose decision is final." "Referee" is later, and it means "one to whom disputes are referred." So, although they come from slightly different backgrounds both these words came to mean "An official who supervises a game or match in order to ensure that the rules are adhered to." In most sports the referee is present on the field of play and intervenes in the game as necessary. However, in certain sports (such as tennis and cricket) this function is performed by an umpire or umpires, while the referee is an off-field official who may arbitrate on specific issues if they arise.
Q: Bruce asks: 'Where did the saying "It's not over until the fat lady sings" come from and what is its meaning?'
A: It means: there's more to come. It seems to come from the Southern States of America from about 1976. There were two original variations on this, which give the two possible sources -- (1) "The Opera ain't over till the fat lady sings (creating the image of the fat soprano who has to sing a final aria before the curtain comes down); and (2) "Church ain't over till the fat lady sings" (where the picture is of the fat lady in the church choir who gets to sing a sola part). Either of those sources could be correct. And no one seems to know which!
Q: Neil asks: 'Can you please explain what “common sense” means? It appears that no-one knows! '
A: 'Common sense' means 'how things are' -- that's a simple, clear, straight-forward three-word definition of 'common sense' for you -- 'how things are.' Too many people (including too many politicians) seem these days to live in a little bubble of the fairy tales they choose to believe; such people pay no attention to 'how things are' -- and thus display no common sense.
Q: Noel wants to know whether the media is using 'decimated' correctly, when a commentor calls on Hamas to be 'decimated' and means 'totally destroyed?
A: The answer is both yes and no. 'Yes' because the original meaning of 'decimated' was 'to reduce by a tenth.' It goes back to the days of the Roman Empire when a commanding officer would discipline a troop of soldiers by lining them up and then going along the line and killing every tenth man. Obviously, in the original meaning, a place that was 'decimated' still left 90% standing. But the experts tell me that this is a word on the cusp of change -- if not already changed! People have been using (or misusing) it to mean total destruction for so long, that that the 'total wipeout' meaning has now largely taken over. And given that this is how English works (the meaning of a word is its use in the language) we may have to accept that we've lost this one!
Q: Richard asks about the word 'mandarin' -- he wants to know of the fruit and the ancient Chinese ruler should be spelled differently (because they pronounced differently)?
A: No, the two mandarins are spelled in exactly the same way -- 'mandarin' is the name of BOTH a high official in Chinese imperial governments AND one of the major languages spoken in China (the other is Cantonese). That usage goes back to the 1500s. The fruit was originally called a 'mandarin orange' and sometimes a 'China orange'. So, it was the Chinese word that gave its name to the fruit. This labelling seems to have begun in Portugal, and to have been borrowed from there by English, in the 1700s. The Oxford says the pronunciation of both should be man-duh-RIN. I wonder if our pronunciation of man-duh-REEN is more recent? Or even if it is peculiar to Australia?
Q: In the light of Donald Trump's claim that Baraj Obama may have committed treason, Charlotte writes to ask for the origin of the word 'treason.'
A: 'Treason' goes back to the 12th century and came into English from an Anglo Normann and Old French word. Behind that source word is a very similar classical Latin word meaning 'to deliver up' or 'to betray' -- and that's still the core concept of 'treason.'
Q: Adam asks: "When did we start saying ‘over the top’ and how did it come to mean excessive?"
A: The phrase 'over the top is used to mean "Beyond reasonable or acceptable limits" from 1935. However, it may have developed from an earlier First World War expression, where 'over the top' meant it meant 'over the top of the trench and into battle.' Which ordinary soldiers may well have regarded as excessive and unnecessary.
Q: Connie asks for the origin of the expression "Before you can say Jack Robinson".
A: It's recorded from 1763, so it's quite old. The Oxford assures me there never was one particular person named Jack Robinson on whom this was based. Instead, they say, it was just a combination of the most common male Christian name ('John' or 'Jack') with a very common surname 'Robinson'. The meaning seems to have been 'Before you can say the name, such-and-such is over.'
Q: Tiffy asks: "is the phrase shiny as a new pin or as clean as a new pin and where did that phrase come from?"
A: The Oxford records 'clean as a new pin' but not 'shiny as a new pin.' The 'clean as...' version dates as far back as 1769 and means " cleanliness, smartness, or tidiness" (Oxford). It simply refers to the cleanliness of a shiny new pin just out of its packet. There is a third version of this saying: "as neat as a new pin."
Q: John asks: ' who was it who came up with the term "idiot box" to describe television?'
A: It first appeared in 1957 in the Pennsylvania Daily Record, which quotes author David Chandler as having coined the expression 'idiot box' for the TV set --- mind you, that was long before the coming of 24 news channels (a productive and informative use of the medium.)
Q: Tony asks why 'fore' is shouted as a warning in golf.
A: The word is first recorded, with this meaning, in 1878. It is a contraction of the word 'before' and as a shouted warning is aa contraction of the phrase 'watch out before.'
Q: Len wants to know the origin of 'mad as a cut snake.'
A: It means 'very angry' or 'crazy' or 'eccentric.' It is definitely an Australasian coinage, which first appeared in print in 1900 in the Queensland Times. It pictures a farmer hoeing in a paddock when a snake crawls out of the grass. The farmer, naturally, uses his hoe to chop the snake in half. Both halves then writhe and wriggle furiously -- giving an illustration of what 'mad as a cut snake' means.
Q: Aileen asks: 'Where did the phrase ‘Rack and ruin’ originate?'
A: The idiom “rack and ruin” is a popular expression used to describe something that has been destroyed or ruined beyond repair. It is often used to refer to buildings, structures, or even people who have fallen into disrepair due to neglect or abandonment. The origins of this phrase can be traced back to medieval times when torture devices called racks were commonly used in prisons. The rack was a device that stretched a person’s body until their bones began to break, causing immense pain and suffering. Over time, the term “rack” came to be associated with destruction and ruin.
Q: Steven asks about the pronunciation of 'route.' We say 'root' while the Americans (mostly) say 'rowt'. Why is this?
A: There was a period (a long period) in American English when there was great sensitivity to using a word that might be considered even slightly improper. The American habit of saying 'in back of' comes from this period -- because people feared that saying 'behind' might be thought slightly rude or improper. From the same period came an aversion to saying 'root' because of its possible improper implications. Despite this bowdlerization, the song is still called 'Route 66.'
Q: John asks for the origin of 'the writing is on the wall.'
A: It means the predicted and likely outcome is already clear. It comes from the story of Belshazzar's feast (in the great city ancient city of Babylon) in the book of Daniel in the Bible. In the middle of the feast a disembodied hand appears and writes a mysterious message on the wall. Only the Hebrew prophet Daniel can interpret the message, which warns the mighty ruler: 'You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.' Belshazzar's fall from power came shortly afterwards.
Q: Mark asks about the expression 'speaking to truth to power'. He asks if it has any real meaning, of if it just a way of journalists aggrandizing their trade.
A: In 1955 the American Society of Friends (otherwise known as the Quakers) published a book called Speaking Truth to Power: a Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence. That book appears to be the origin of the expression. The Quakers seem to have coined the phrase to describe the approach of Mahatma Ghandi to political dissent. Their phrase was then taken up by others as a way of naming a tactic of non-violent protest. Mind you, activist Noam Chomsky has dismissed the notion, saying that power already knows the truth, and is busy suppressing it.
Q: Dale says he has heard the word 'oversighting' used, and asks if this is wrong? Should it be 'overseeing'?
A: Sorry Dale, but 'oversighting' is a real word. From 1885 it has meant exactly the same as 'overseeing' (that is 'supervising.')
Q: Betty writes: 'The two words…. jumper and sweater… Is there a difference in accepted usage? Is Jumper related to leaping? Is Sweater related to perspiration?'
A: 'Jumper' is recorded from 1853 meaning 'a loose outer jacket reaching to the hips.' Earlier (from the 1650s) there was kind of short coat for mean called a 'jump' -- and this name was borrowed from a French word for a similar garment. The French word was juppe, and this was just adopted and anglicized. 'Sweater' comes from 1882 and originally meant 'a woollen vest or jersey worn... in order to reduce one's weight (by causing sweating during exercise).'
Q: Claire asks: 'What is the origin of “No harm no foul”?'
A: It began in America in the 1950s in a game called streetball -- which is similar to basketball and was frequently played in the 1950s. In streetball, if there was no physical harm done to a player, then there would be no foul called. These days 'no harm, no foul' is said when someone makes a mistake, to assure them that there will be no consequences (no one was hurt, so you're not annoyed with them).
Q: Ida writes: ' Please let me know where the oft used expression LIVED EXPERIENCE comes from. Is there another type of experience? This expression has of course been used by our PM recently.'
A: The earliest citation I can find for 'lived experience' is from 1993, from an academic paper, in which it translates a German word. It appears to have first grown out of the philosophy of phenomenology. What is surprising is that in the early 2000s it entered the broader lexicon as a smarter way of saying 'personal experience.' My assumption is that people who use it are trying to sound more literate and well-read than they are.
Q: Seb writes: 'I would like to know the definition of 'Catfishing' please. What does it mean.'
A: It basically means 'a false identity.' It seems to have first popped up around 2010. Oxford's official definition (from 2023) says 'catfishing' means: 'a person who deceives by means of a fictional or assumed online persona, esp. with the intent to lure someone into a relationship.' Use in this sense derives from the title of the 2010 documentary film Catfish, which concerns this kind of deception. Within the documentary, the husband of a woman who has been adopting a fictional online persona refers to her as a catfish (in this case with positive connotations), drawing on the concept of the fish as an invigorating or enlivening force, based on the (probably false) idea that catfish were once used in the transportation of cod.
Q: Albert asks: "Can you please tell me where the name BLOOMERS came from and when first used for women's under wear?"
A: Starting from 1851 the word was used to label a style of 'modest' clothing promoted by Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818–1894), an American lady who introduced the costume that still bears her name. These days the word is applied to the sort of briefs that might have shocked po0r Mrs Bloomer.
Q: Hi. Where did the word berserk come from? Stephen
A: 'Berserk' started life as an Old Icelandic word. The original form was 'berserker' -- meaning a wild, Viking warrior. It was often applied to a warrior who was so absurdly courageous as to go into battle with armour. The word 'berserker' is related to the Old Icelandic word for 'bearskin' so the implication was that a 'berserker' was a wild man who rushed tin battle protected by no more than a bearskin.
Q: I would like to know where the word “undertaker” originated and why it has the reference to a funeral director. Zoe
A: When 'undertaker' first appeared in English (around 1382) it meant 'an assistant' or 'a helper.' Only from 1698 did 'undertaker' come to mean the business of making arrangements for funerals. The experts assume that funerals had (by that time) come to be seen as an area where people often needed help and support.
Q: If a sporting team is beaten soundly, why is the expression ‘they were given a real shellacking’ used? Gerald.
A: The earliest use of 'shellacking' is from 1881 and is just the literal meaning of 'a coating of shellack'. Originally 'lac' was a dark, resinous substance from the scales of certain insects. This was melted and applied as a protective shell over woodwork. Then, out of the blue, in 1930 (in America) this verb was applied to mean 'to beat, to thrash, to punish.' This started when 'shellacked' was used to mean 'drunk.' Apparently serious down-and-out alcoholics would drink shellac--because it was always dissolved in alcohol. Then this was transferred to sport. Perhaps it went first to boxing because of the existing expression 'punch drunk.' Mind you, other experts have suggested it might be a different word -- a combination of 'whacking' and 'shelling' both of which are violently destructive.
Q: Do you have a definition for woke? Simon.
A: "politically correct bullies' is my preferred definition. The 'woke' movement began back in the 1980s as the politically correct movement -- which those of us who are politically incorrect just found amusing. But over the intervening decades this transmuted into a more aggressive mindset that despised everyone who disagreed with them -- and sought to badger and bully out of the public square anyone who did not support their views. I have been told that my definition is harsh. Possibly. But it is correct!
Q: Hi Kel, could you explain the origin of the saying, the devils in the detail? John
A: It means: 'the details of a plan, although seemingly insignificant, may contain hidden or highly problematic issues.' It first appeared in English in 1963, but it seems to be a direct translation of an earlier German expression (from around 1940) Teufel steckt im Detail. There was an even earlier German proverb that said, 'God is in the details'. All these expressions convey the notion that it is the details that matter rather than just the overall thrust o of the deal or the document in question.
Q: I know what they mean, when they say "summit". They mean a conference or a meeting. Why not just say so? Gordon.
A: Because they are more than meetings -- they are meetings of 'peak' people: the 'highest' people qualified to discuss (and act on) these issues.
Q: Yesterday in church our organist played a postlude at the end of the service. Sometimes before the service he might play a prelude on the organ. That has brought me to consider what a ‘lude’ might be. Can you help please? Cheers, Riley
A: 'Lude' goes back to the days of Old English -- and is a variation on 'loud.' So, when applied to sounds or voices it means 'strong audible; making a strong impression.' To this are added to the prefixes 'pre'- and 'post-' to indicate their place in the schedule.
Q: Recently on the Credlin show, the banner used the word insure in the sense of making sure something would happen. I believe that insure is related to the concept of insurance and providing protection in the event of something untoward happening. Conversely, I believe ensure relates to making sure something will take place. Can you please clarify the correct use of these two words. Thank you, Susan
A: 'Insure' and 'ensure' both came into English from the same French source word (around the (1400s) and have closely related meanings. 'Ensure' means 'to make certain' (it can be used to mean 'guarantee'). 'Insure' has a fixed connection to finance, it means ' To secure the payment of a sum of money (if specified events occur).' So, it appears that if there is no financial component, then 'insure' should not be used. If all that is being conveyed in the notion of 'making certain' then it looks as if 'ensure' is the correct word.
Q: I often use the phrase ' done his dash' and I wonder where this originated. Thanks and fast recovery. Andrew.
A: It's an Australian colloquialism, first recorded in 1916. It seems to come from the earlier expression 'to have a dash (at something)' meaning to make an attempt. If you've made an attempt and failed, you've 'done your dash.' The old meaning of 'dash' in English was 'to strike a blow' and this fits in with the notion of making an attempt: 'I'll have a dash (strike a blow) at this...'
Q: My Grand Mother who was born in the late 1800's of Scottish Parents at a place called Joadja Creek west of Mittagong NSW. As a young boy and when I was naughty on several occasions I recall her chastising me and used two phrases (Snakes alive) and (Starve the Lizards). Are you able shed some light on the origin of these sayings. My Grandmother died in the 1950's and there no other family members of that era left who would know the history of these sayings. Best wishes. Jim.
A: 'Starve the lizards' is a variation on 'stone the crows' as an Australian expression of surprise. But tracking down either of them came from has proved to be almost impossible. 'Snakes alive" I hadn't heard of before but probably fits in this same category.
Q: Hi Kel, A news report on Ch 7 evening news tonight reminded me of a very common abuse of English. In giving a report about a driver breaking the law, it was reported that his licence may be disqualified. Apparently, they are unaware that it is the driver who may be disqualified. His licence may be suspended or cancelled, but never disqualified, as the licence is not qualified to do anything! Grrrrr. Cheers, Helen
A: In an earlier life I was a Senior Producer in a major newsroom, and I spent much of my time battling the linguistic ignorance of young journalists.
Q: Hi Kel, I'm wondering what the origins for the military slang words "goffa" and "gumpy bars" I know that they mean "soft drink" and "chocolate bar" respectively but can't find the origins. Cheers Steve
A: Military slang is also a puzzle to me. CAN ANY READER HELPWITH AN ANSWER FOR STEVE PLEASE?
Q: Hi Kel. Firstly, I love your segment on Credlin! My question is, if the noun is 'enthanasia', how is it that the verb is 'euthanise'? Shouldn't it be 'euthanase'? Thanks heaps, Jo
A: The Oxford says that the correct verb is 'euthanize' and that 'euthanise' is a less common variant. And, yes, I am hearing more these days, and I don't understand why. It is clearly not correct.
Q: "Mum -- as in keeping mum... My granddaughters asked what it means, and I ask where did it come from? Can you assist?
Regards, Tony
A: It's a very old expression. From as long ago as the 15th century 'mum' meant 'an inarticulate sound with closed lips.' We get our word 'mumble' from that same source. In the Middle Ages travelling acrobats and actors who performed in pantomime (never spoke) were called 'mummers.' And that also gave us 'mum's the word' meaning -- keep your lips sealed.
Q: Hi Kel, how did ratbag come about? It was used on Sky News to describe a group of anti-Israel protesters. Would i be correct in saying that it is one of our own, an Aussie colloquialism? Thanks. John
A: In the late 1800s 'rat' was slang for a mad idea -- for being a bit crazy. Someone who was going stupid was said to 'have a rat.' If he was full of mad ideas (full of 'rats') he was a 'ratbag.'
Q: Paul writes to ask the difference between the words 'truth' and 'facts.'
A: There is no difference. When used correctly (honestly) they are exact synonyms. The Oxford defines 'truth' as meaning 'in accordance with the facts, with reality.' And the Oxford says that 'facts' means 'that which is known to be true.'
Q: Are politicians using the word ‘quantum’ correctly, when they say, ‘quantum of spending’? Should it be ‘quantity’ instead? Tessa
A: 'Quantum' comes from physics and means 'the smallest amount of anything.' So, yes, it refers to quantity. Confusingly a 'quantum leap' is said to be a very large leap. What any politician means by 'quantum of spending' I cannot begin to imagine.
Q: Hi Kel, where did the phrase " back to square one " come from, and what exactly does it mean? Thanks. John
A: It means 'back to the beginning' or 'back to the starting point.' It's first recorded in Britain in 1952. The Oxford offers this explanation: ' Often said to derive from the notional division of a football (soccer) pitch into eight numbered sections for the purposes of early radio commentaries, but this is unlikely, as the system was abandoned several decades before the first record of the phrase.' So, of that's the case, where did it come from? The answer is almost certainly the children's board game of Snakes and Ladders.
Q: I was reading the abstracts of articles in the WSJ, and I came across this sentence: Trump’s lawsuit arrived at an especially fraught moment for Paramount and its storied CBS News unit. The word 'storied' seems to be very popular these days. I think it's taken over from the terminally overused 'iconic'. Care to do an article on it? I hope your recovery is proceeding well. Best regards, Helen
A: The word 'storied' goes back to the late 1400s. It is meant to name a person or institution about which many celebratory stories are told. In the sense, it is very similar to 'legendary' -- which means 'that about which legends are told.' (A 'legend' being a type of story.) And, yest, Helen, I might do some more work and expand this answer into a whole column.
Q: My question is where did the expression “fair dinkum” originate? It’s used so commonly in all areas of communication, and we all know what it means but how did it start? Thanks Aileen
A: It started as an English dialect word meaning 'work.' The English Dialect Dictionary recorded it from Gloucestershire in 1879. It was brought here by settlers from that part of the British Isles. In Rolf Boldrewood's1882 novel Robbery Under Arms the narrator (Dick Marston) says "It took an hour's hard dinkum" to get the cattle up the valley." 'Fair dinkum' originally meant a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Over the years it broadened and became more general, until it just meant 'genuine' or 'fair' in a very general sense.
Q: Hi Kel, can you please explain why a police officer is referred to as a "cop" and what the origin of cop is? Also, is it a derogatory term as one often hears police referring to other police as cops? Thanks, cheers, Alan
A: This nickname for police officers comes from the old verb 'to cop' meaning 'to catch or capture.' In the fact, the Oxford suggest 'cop' may be a variation on the first syllable of the word 'capture' -- in which 'cap' becomes 'cop.' And, no, it's not a derogatory term, since it implies the proper function of the police officer.
Q: Why do journalists use the term 'lawmaker' instead of 'politician'? Parliament makes law, not individual pollies! Charles
A: Since the 1400s 'lawmaker' has meant "a legislator" or "a member of a legislative body" (Oxford). So, the word 'lawmaker' does not imply individual action, but the action of a group of people who collectively write our laws. Its use is more common these days in America than here. Its usefulness is that covers all members of the parliament (or Congress) collectively -- both members of the lower house and members of the senate.
Q: Gday Kel, You may have already covered this one, but a favourite term used by reporters is the word “backflip.” They use it to characterise a reversal of policy by political parties, as you know. The trouble is that when someone does a backflip, he [sic] ends up facing the same way as when he [sic] started! I’m pretty sure that’s not what reporters want to communicate.
The old terms, “about-face” (military) or even “volte-face” (French), can be used. Also available are “flip-flop” and “turnabout.” Might be worth a mention? Cheers, Peter
A: The great abusers of 'backflip' are journalists -- this is a lazy, journalistic cliche. Think about it for a moment. 'Backflip' (coined in 1893) means "A backward somersault" (Oxford) -- and that involves an acrobat spinning 360 degrees in the air and landing on their feet facing the way they were when they began. So, a 'backflip is not a reversal of position. And, yes, 'about face' would be a much better expression. But lazy journalists don't put their brain into gear, don't use any mental muscle, and so don't understand.
Q: Kel, "sanction" is a curious word as it seems to have two meanings at odds with each other ... to ratify versus to penalise. Best Regards, Terence
A: 'Sanction' (from a French source word) came into English as a technical legal term (in the 1500s). It means, in effect, drawing a line. So that which is within the line is permitted, whatever is outside the line in banned. So, a 'sanction' imposed on Iran by America says, "this is outside the line and is banned." But when something is 'sanctioned' (meaning 'permitted') it is inside the line and is allowed. 'Sanction' can mean both, because it refers to the legal line that is drawn.
Q: Please can you explain the saying -"As happy as a sandboy"- what is a sandboy and why are they happy? Thanks Alison
A: The sandboys of the expression actually sold sand. Boy here was a common term for a male worker of lower class (as in bellboy, cowboy, and stableboy), which comes from an old sense of a servant. It doesn’t imply the sellers were young. The selling of sand wasn’t such a peculiar occupation as you might think, as there was once a substantial need for it. It was used to scour pans and tools and was sprinkled on the floors of butchers’ shops, inns and taprooms to take up spilled liquids. Later in the century it was superseded by sawdust. Their prime characteristic, it seems, was an inexhaustible desire for beer. Charles Dickens referred to the saying, by then proverbial, in The Old Curiosity Shop in 1841: “The Jolly Sandboys was a small road-side inn of pretty ancient date, with a sign, representing three Sandboys increasing their jollity with as many jugs of ale”. So sandboys were happy because they were drunk. At first the saying was meant ironically. Only where the trade wasn’t practised — or had died out — could it became an allusion to unalloyed happiness.
Q: Hi Kel, where did the word gab come from? A few examples of its usage are gabfest, and gift of the gab. John
A: 'Gab' is a very old word. In From the 1700s it usually meant 'talk' (sometimes foolish or empty talk). And that's the meaning it still carries today. So, a 'gabfest' is a conference with a lot of talking and 'gift of the gab' is the ability to speak fluently (and perhaps persuasively). But where the original word came from remains obscure. It may have come from an Old French word, or possibly from an even old Germanic source word -- the experts are unsure.
Q: I find that the word "insane" has taken on dozens of new meanings. A unique automobile might be described as "insane." Even professional journalists describe riots and misbehavior as "insane". Absurd and illogical government policy has become "insane". Why can't people use more accurate descriptors? Rod
A: That's a good observation Rod. Yes, 'insane' is now being used as a term of approval -- as "insanely good value." An absurd misuse of the word.
Q: I am a Certified Practicing Valuer of over 30yrs experience. Frustrated by the current misuse of the word "SQUARES" by commentators. A Square is 100 sq ft or approx. 9.3 sq metres NOT 1 square metre! The term was used in the past, and presently by home builders, to describe the size of a house. I was surprised to recently hear a lady REI representative on Ross Greenwood's show describe a house as being on so many hundred "squares" -an absurd prospect. Should know better. Jeff
A: Yes, they should! Thanks for setting us straight.
Q: Kel, can you please sort out the difference between 'effect' and 'affect' please? What does 'ruthless' mean? If you are without 'ruth' what are you missing? Dennis
A: 'Affect' is the verb and 'effect' is the noun. (He was affected by drinking too much--and the effect was he fell over.) 'Ruth' is an old word meaning compassion. So, someone who is ruthless lacks compassion.
Q: Given the malleability and elasticity which the word "genocide" has acquired since 7/10/23, do you think that it would be too much of a stretch (pun intended) to call the government's energy policy a genocide against the availability and affordability of energy as well as against the viability of industries in this country? Leon
A: Yes, it would be too much of a stretch. 'Genocide' is a real word with a real meaning. It is not elastic. It means what Hitler did in the death camps. We mustn't cheapen it by stretching it other, lesser, things. We must not fall into the trap of the halfwits who chant pro-Palestinian slogans.
Q: After the Voice referendum I suggested to our local community association, which is very influential, that we drop the Welcome to Country at the start of every meeting. You would have thought I had suggested that we poison the local water supply. One member said “she was insulted” and resigned later from the committee and I was told, forcefully that, despite the fact that our electorate had voted no, our “booth” had voted “yes” and I would just have to accept that. The Secretary is still doing it at each meeting and has even expanded it to a homily to all descendants of aboriginals in our electorate! Gee! Peter
A: I have written about this in the current issue "Quadrant" (should now be at your newsagent).
Q: Jim asks about the meaning of 'metal road.' He says that driving in New Zealand he saw signs saying, 'metal road ahead'--so what is a 'metal road.'
A: Metal roads are those that have been surfaced with a hard material such as metal, asphalt, or concrete. They are much more durable than unmetalled roads and can last for many years with proper maintenance. The Cambridge Dictionary says: 'A metalled road is covered with small or crushed stones.' From the 1500s 'metal' has been used for earthen materials such as clay, slate, shale or gravel. Calling such material on roads 'metal' started in Scotland in the 1700s.