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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Etymologies #165279 01/17/2007 7:59 PM Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 2 quizzersapru stranger quizzersapru stranger Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Hi, I am quite interested in etymologies - more of phrases, than words - and would really like to know the origins/coinage of the following phrases & the stories behind them (i.e. the who/when/how/why - in short, the whole kit and caboodle!): 1) Affirmative action 2) Brain drain 3) Phrases like " he wept in his shirt-sleeves" & "he wept with his pants on". I mean, how does someone come up with something like that?!! I'd be grateful if you could get back to me with the answers at quizzersapru@gmail.com. Thank you. Cheers, Shantanu. Cogito ergo sum! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymologies #165280 01/17/2007 8:14 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York Welcome to the board. You'll probably get more replies here than to your E-mail, so be sure to come back. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymologies #165281 01/18/2007 11:43 PM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada "3)Phrases like " he wept in his shirt-sleeves" & "he wept with his pants on". I mean, how does someone come up with something like that?!!" Now those are new to me. I suppose that weeping with your or without your pants would make a difference to the person who's shoulder you were crying on... The others are familiar but I don't know the stories. PS welcome aboard quizzer Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymologies #165282 01/19/2007 7:53 AM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 >Etymologies And what about the phrase, "to a fare-thee-well", meaning, "to perfection" ? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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