Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Q&A about words Best in the world
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Insel, I was just wondering if it had actually ever been deliberately coined, or just showed up in general usage at a particular time. I popped, "The Best in the World," into Atomica and got this interesting response:
on earth
1. Also, in creation; in the world. Ever, anywhere, of all possible things. These phrases are all used for emphasis in questions or, less often, in a negative context. For example, What on earth is he doing with a spade? or Where in creation did that child go? or How in the world do you expect me to carry all those bags? [Late 1700s]
2. like nothing on earth. Incomparable. For example, That perfume smells like nothing on earth, or Her new hair color is like nothing on earth. [c. 1900]
--The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
Like nothing on earth may be the clue to the query here, the original phrase that also became "The Best in the World" and "World Famous." I know like nothing on earth was a favorite call of carnival barkers and the like in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tough to pinpoint a specific instance of original coinage, though. I'll try "World Famous" and see what turns up.
The Only WO'N!
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted Best in the world inselpeter 04/19/02 11:40 AM Re: Best in the world Capital Kiwi 04/19/02 12:46 PM Re: Best in the world WhitmanO'Neill 04/19/02 01:32 PM Re: Best in the world maverick 04/19/02 01:44 PM Re: Best in the world inselpeter 04/19/02 02:08 PM Re: Best in the world/Like nothing on earth WhitmanO'Neill 04/19/02 03:08 PM . Max Quordlepleen 04/21/02 04:52 AM
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,389Members9,182 Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now 0 members (), 701 guests, and 3 robots. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 28
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,572tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,920Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org