|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1 |
Does anyone know or have an idea about the origin of this expression?
Rip
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
take your pick. the consensus is, no one knows; so we're all free to speculate. - joe (I dunno) friday
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 155
member
|
member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 155 |
I'll speculate. The forbidden fruit might be in there.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
I had always assumed that it had something to do with taking severed heads away in baskets in the bloody aftermath of the French Revolution, but the most likely answer is that it is "an English alliterative phrase of unclear origin," to quote one of the above mentioned sources.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
I picture a woman (since I are one) on a bicyle, carrying a basket in one hand while steering with the other and going breakneck down a steep hill. Don't know why. Juat do.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
of course a woman --Helena Handbasket...
one of those name you use in a sign in sheet for a substitute teacher.. (i went to all girl schools, so i know the girl ones.. (vs Richard (aka dick) Hurts.... Who's dick hurts..sort of stuff)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Wasn't it the Helena Handbaskets in the independent Northern Plains States League where Barry Bonds went after the Giants dropped him? We always spelled it Hertz
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,580
Members9,187
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
332
guests, and
0
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|