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Idioms with Names:. History of English Language. Meanings and Origins. Chris Jianglin Terri Yeh. 1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson. ORIGIN Fictitious figure: Jack Robinson. Jack Robinson. 1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson. MEANING (A) very quickly (B) very naughtily - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Idioms with Names:
History of English Language
Chris JianglinTerri Yeh
Meanings and Origins
ORIGINFictitious figure: Jack Robinson
1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson
MEANING(A) very quickly(B) very naughtily(C) very ridiculously
Before you could say Jack Robinson, the bird flew away.
1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson
MEANINGThe youngest son in the family
(Especially when he is much younger than his brothers)
In modern use: + female childrenChristian, Muslim, and Jewish religions
2. Benjamin of the Family
ORIGINStory of Jacob in the Book of Genesis
Jacob and EsauBenjamin = “right hand son” in Hebrew
Origin of the name Benjamin
2. Benjamin of the Family
MEANINGan error in speech, memory or physical action
that is interpreted as occurring due to the interference of some unconscious subdued wish, conflict, or train of thought
3. Freudian Slip
ORIGINNamed after Sigmund FreudThe Psychopathology of Life
3. Freudian Slip
He let out a Freudian slip that could reveal his true personality.
"For seven and a half years I've worked alongside President Reagan. We've had triumphs. Made some mistakes. We've had some sex... uh... setbacks."
-A Freudian slip by President George H.W. Bush
3. Freudian Slip
MEANINGMacmillan Dictionary:
Someone who can do many types of work Jacks-of-all-trades
“Jacks of all trades, master of none”
4. Jack-of-all-trades
ORIGINA term of praise
Commonly used during the 17th century Jack = “man” 1618 – Geffray Mynshul’s Essays and Characters of a
Prison
A master of integration generalistPolymath?
4. Jack-of-all-trades
MEANING John/ Jane Doe: anonymous or unknown defendantRichard/ Jane Roe: anonymous or unknown plantiffNowadays,
1) an unnamed person in legal proceedings 2) an anonymous average citizen 3) a corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown
5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe
ORIGIN
5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe
A: landlord
C: tenant B:
notional landlord
ORIGINWhy is Doe and Roe?doe: venison; roe: kind of fish
TODAYBaby Doe; Princess Doe If my actual name is John Doe…?
5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe
MEANINGA person’s signature
Informal use in American English
6. John Hancock
ORIGINJohn Hancock was President of
Congress, signing Declaration of Independence
Why?
6. John Hancock
MEANING to try to achieve the same social position and wealth as one's neighbors or acquaintances
7. Keep up with the Joneses
ORIGINThe Jones: Edith Wharton’s father; rich New York family
New Yorkers build country villas in the Hudson Valley
TODAYNegative effect: conspicuous consumption
7. Keep up with the Joneses
MEANINGThe real thing, the genuine articleM. Dict.: Something that is real and not
a copy
8. The Real McCoy
ORIGINMichael Quinion of the WWW: Kid McCoy storyNorman Selby – an American champion boxer (1) to distinguish himself (2) “Which is the real McCoy?” (3) “It’s the real McCoy.”
8. The Real McCoy
ORIGINFirst recording occurred in James S.
Bond’s The Rise and Fall of the “Union club” (1881)
8. The Real McCoy
MEANING a person who is oblivious to changes, especially in social attitudes or thought
a person who sleeps a lot
9. Rip Van Winkle
ORIGIN short story by the American author
Washington Irving
Setting: before and after American Revolution
Rip has been away from the village for 20
years…
9. Rip Van Winkle
MEANINGMacmillan Dictionary:
A way of referring to the US or the US government
The expression comes from the abbr “US”
10. Uncle Sam
ORIGINCame into use during the War of 1812
Samuel Wilson – a meat packer“E.A – US.”
By 1850s, Brother Jonathan ≒ Uncle SamNear the end of the Civil War (1861-65)
10. Uncle Sam
= “Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam”?
ORIGINJames Montgomery FlaggIrish language: Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá
(The United States of America)
10. Uncle Sam
“Benjamin (name).”Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 3 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_(name)
Bon mots. “What's in a name?–10idioms with names you got to know” WordPress.com.WordPress.com, 23 Jul. 2009. Web. 25 Dec. 2012.
“Idiom Category: Person's name, Page 1.” UsingEnglish.com. UsingEnglish.com Ltd., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012.
“Jack of all trades, master of none.”Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 5 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none
References
“John Hancock.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 23 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock
“The real McCoy.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 8 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_real_McCoy#cite_note-1
N. Kalu. “What Is the “Benjamin of the Family”?” wiseGEEK. Conjecture Corporation, n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2012.
“Uncle Sam.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Sam
References
“Jack Robinson (mythical person).” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Robinson_(mythical_person)
“Freudian Slip.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freudian_slip
“John Doe.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Doe
“Keep up with the Joneses.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses
References
“Rip van Winkle.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 19 Dec. 2012. Web. 27 Dec. 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Van_Winkle
"Rip Van Winkle." Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged. 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003. HarperCollins Publishers 3 Jan. 2013 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Rip+Van+Winkle
Grose, Francis. A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue. Ed. Eric Partridge. London : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1963. Print.
References
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