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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Behind the times #64176 04/06/2002 10:53 PM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 2,605 Keiva Carpal Tunnel Keiva Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 2,605 Tonight many of us will set our clocks one hour ahead, for daylight saving time. I read today something suggesting that a phrase came from this. When daylight saving time originated many folks, particularly farmers, rebelled and refused to set their clocks ahead. As a result, they often missed meetings set by "city time" (church services, etc.), because they were "behind the times". Can anyone confirm this story, or otherwise illuminate the origin of the phrase "behind the times"? Post-edit to dr. bill: I agree that the above story sounds dubious. Query as to the true origin. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: Behind the times #64177 04/06/2002 10:58 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Dear Ken: Daylight saving is comparatively recent. I suspect "behind the times' is much older. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit 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 Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,916 Posts230,371 Members9,209 Most Online7,006 Mar 7th, 2026 Newest Members Peripatetic Toad, JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery 9,209 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 34 A C Bowden 14 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,200 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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