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Does anybody know how this phrase came into use? I hear it on various TV shows to describe somebody who has enough qualifications to get into the next round, provided that some later contestant doesn't score higher. I first heard it on Fear Factor 3 or 4 years ago, and again this morning in our paper in the TV section--something about somebody on A.I.* being "on the bubble" pending others' performances.
*American Idol, in this case!
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Carpal Tunnel
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based on the idea that something on the surface of a bubble is as likely to roll in one direction as in another
- Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms
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old hand
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old hand
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A quick googling finds this: http://poker.about.com/od/pokerglossary/g/bubble.htm It makes sense to me that it would arise from poker as the game is so popular right now, and has been for the last 5 years or so, especially Texas Hold'em. It may stem from, as tsuwm said, rolling easily in any direction, indicating an uncertain outcome. To me it indicates the perilous position of someone, or something, that if it goes the wrong way, the bubble will break and somethin's gonna fall! It could also relate to being on the edge, as that's to where bubbles usually migrate, still indicating a risky position. :0)
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'm pretty sure poker borrowed the already available term.
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old hand
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old hand
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I'm sure you're right! But I didn't dig any farther. I don't think it's very old, though. Just a hunch with no knowledge/research behind it at all...
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financial market bubbles have been talked of for ages, see especially The Bubble. - joe (Swiftly rising) friday
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old hand
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The term 'bubble' is often used of boom times about to 'burst' it is true, but I suspect that the phrase "on the bubble" is synonymous with "on the boil" and refers to being active and moving like a pot of boiling water or stew or something - bubbling with red hot activity. Similar in meaning to the phrases "hot to trot" or "cooking with gas" etc.
"bubble, bubble toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble..."
Last edited by The Pook; 04/25/08 01:23 AM.
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Er--thanks, people. I did figure the reason it's used is what the Idiom Dict. said. What I was wondering is why the phrase gained relatively sudden popularity? Was it in some movie (which, obviously, I did not see)?
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old hand
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Er--thanks, people. I did figure the reason it's used is what the Idiom Dict. said. What I was wondering is why the phrase gained relatively sudden popularity? Was it in some movie (which, obviously, I did not see)? I'm sticking by my original answer: poker
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you want to talk popular? well, a much more *popular usage than poker is sports tournament selection. as tournament selection approaches, teams that don't automatically qualify or don't have imposing qualifying records, but are still hopeful of being invited to a tournament, are said to be on the bubble in Bracketology speak. and here's the proof: link "on the bubble" +sports - 501,000 ghits [plus individual sports; e.g., basketball] "on the bubble" +poker - 128,000 ghits
Last edited by tsuwm; 04/25/08 03:53 AM.
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