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Endangered Phrases: Intriguing Idioms Dangerously Close to Extinction
“Person to person” (and “station to station”), “bar sinister,” “the weed of crime bears bitter fruit,” “between the devil and the deep blue sea,” “will o’ the wisp,” “poor as Job’s turkey” . . . these are just a few phrases that were once part of everyday speech. However, due to our evolving language and other cultural changes, there are hundreds of phrases poised on the brink of extinction. Can such endangered phrases be saved? And if so, why? These are questions Steven D. Price, award-winning author and keen observer of the passing linguistic scene, answers in this challenging and captivating compilation. It is sure to increase your appreciation of the English language’s ebb and flow-and enhance your own vocabulary along the way.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 22, 2011
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108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 9, 2020
What a cute little book about idioms, or phrases that have been part of our lives and which are soon going to fall into oblivion. Each idiom has a brief history and description and it is a true shame that our our current language usage rarely has room for these little gems!
December 3, 2023
Those of us who grew up during mid-20th century will recognize these phrases now mostly forgotten and only occasionally still used.
In a time when popular culture was shared across generations and in a time when Shakespeare was read in high school, the current phrases were popular and intergenerational. These phrases reflect as slower time of more widespread mass culture. Reading the phrases and considering them brought a sense of comfort of time, space, and connection.
I found this book Endangered Phrases to be very different different from A very modern dictionary by Tobias Anthony which requires the reader to be something in the loop of popular culture and technology to understand.
Sometimes it is a pleasure to remember childhood.
In a time when popular culture was shared across generations and in a time when Shakespeare was read in high school, the current phrases were popular and intergenerational. These phrases reflect as slower time of more widespread mass culture. Reading the phrases and considering them brought a sense of comfort of time, space, and connection.
I found this book Endangered Phrases to be very different different from A very modern dictionary by Tobias Anthony which requires the reader to be something in the loop of popular culture and technology to understand.
Sometimes it is a pleasure to remember childhood.
December 13, 2012
Most of these phrases were familiar to me, which I found disappointing. There were a number of missing words in the descriptions (poor proof reading!) which I found annoying and a few of the phrases that were included had no background story, the author just said "we don't know where this came from."
The main thing that makes me glad I read this is that it did include an explanation of a phrase I have heard my whole life and didn't know the origin of. Frick and Frack was a Swiss comedy ice skating duo who appeared in the original Ice Follies in the 1930s. The phrase came to be applied to any pair of jokesters, especially those that looked like each other. My Mom often used this phrase to refer to my sister and I when we were kids, I can't imagine why.
The main thing that makes me glad I read this is that it did include an explanation of a phrase I have heard my whole life and didn't know the origin of. Frick and Frack was a Swiss comedy ice skating duo who appeared in the original Ice Follies in the 1930s. The phrase came to be applied to any pair of jokesters, especially those that looked like each other. My Mom often used this phrase to refer to my sister and I when we were kids, I can't imagine why.
June 12, 2018
Clever writing and interesting explanations. Only caught one error by the author, involving diode tubes where the substitution really involved triode tubes.
January 7, 2023
Three-and-three-quarters stars. A nice book to read in small chunks. However, I'm not convinced that all or even most of these phrases are endangered. Admittedly, I am no longer young, but the I strongly suspect the problem with the younger folk that the author tested his phrases against wasn't that they were young, but that they weren't particularly well-read or well-educated.
It is worth remembering that there are many, many readers of English out there, and a phrase can be in robust good health with millions of users, and still not be known to the majority!
It is worth remembering that there are many, many readers of English out there, and a phrase can be in robust good health with millions of users, and still not be known to the majority!
February 24, 2012
"Three sheets to the wind: very drunk
Despite what it sounds like to nonsailors, a 'sheet' isn't a sail. It's the rope that secures the sail's edge or corner to the mast or the vessel itself. A sheet that comes loose flaps erratically, much like a drunken sailor weaving his way back to the ship after a night's alcoholic revelry. Three sheets blowing in the wind would be even worse."
"Wet blanket: a spreader of gloom
What could put more of a damper on a lovely summer day picnic than a wet ground cloth---unless it's a person who, by word or deed, spoils everyone's fun? Such a spoilsport at any otherwise enjoyable event goes by the epithet 'wet blanket', better known to recent generations as a party pooper."
"Tilt at windmills: fight imaginary enemies or fight a battle that can't be won.
'Tilt' means 'joust' as in mounted knights fighting each other with lances. In Miguel Cervantes's 'Don Quixote', the Man of La Mancha came upon a row of windmills and took them for giants, their flailing arms ready to do battle. Despite his squire Sancho Panza's pointing out that they were windmills, Don Quixote set his lance, spurred his steed Rocinante, and charged the 'enemy'. Alas for the Knight of Woeful Countenance, the windmills prevailed. Anyone who similarly takes on a losing cause is tilting at windmills.
Despite what it sounds like to nonsailors, a 'sheet' isn't a sail. It's the rope that secures the sail's edge or corner to the mast or the vessel itself. A sheet that comes loose flaps erratically, much like a drunken sailor weaving his way back to the ship after a night's alcoholic revelry. Three sheets blowing in the wind would be even worse."
"Wet blanket: a spreader of gloom
What could put more of a damper on a lovely summer day picnic than a wet ground cloth---unless it's a person who, by word or deed, spoils everyone's fun? Such a spoilsport at any otherwise enjoyable event goes by the epithet 'wet blanket', better known to recent generations as a party pooper."
"Tilt at windmills: fight imaginary enemies or fight a battle that can't be won.
'Tilt' means 'joust' as in mounted knights fighting each other with lances. In Miguel Cervantes's 'Don Quixote', the Man of La Mancha came upon a row of windmills and took them for giants, their flailing arms ready to do battle. Despite his squire Sancho Panza's pointing out that they were windmills, Don Quixote set his lance, spurred his steed Rocinante, and charged the 'enemy'. Alas for the Knight of Woeful Countenance, the windmills prevailed. Anyone who similarly takes on a losing cause is tilting at windmills.
January 1, 2023
Phrases that are endangered due to lack of use. This book doesn't just give you the phrase that appears to be going out of style but also the reason it got started in the first place as well as the meaning. At least where they are know the answer to that. Sometimes this part of the book is more could be than is. It makes for some interesting reading. Although I was a little depressed at some points. It is kind of depressing to find out that a phrase that you use is endangered from lack of use. A little like finding out your favorite band is now classic rock.
December 24, 2022
I was a little disappointed in this. Only maybe 3 phrases I’d never heard of or used. Makes me wonder where they got their control group to measure against for rarity.
February 14, 2020
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I'm a "word nerd." I like unusual and uncommon words and phrases. I enjoy looking up word etymologies and pondering the connections between "mega" and "major."
This book presents an odd assortment of phrases in alphabetical order and provides a brief explanation of the phrase's meaning and origin. Thus, we end up with entries like the following:
"balling the jack: to move rapidly. A “jack” was a railroad term for locomotive. “Ball” referred to the round electric signal that indicated the speed at which a train should travel. The fastest speed indicated by the signal was at its highest point, which indicated to an engineer that his locomotive could “highball it down the line.” Other trainmen would say the engineer was “balling the jack.” The phrase came into general usage from a 1913 ragtime song of the same name. The lyrics gave instructions to do a similarly named dance (“First you put your two knees close up tight, you swing ’em to the left and then you swing ’em to the right …”)".
That makes me wonder whether the name of the '70's band, "Red Ball and Jack," was based loosely on this phrase.
And:
"get off the dime: to move or to stop wasting time. Back in the 1920s and ’30s, taxi dancers were female dance hall employees whose livelihood was dancing with any men who paid for the opportunity. The usual fee was ten cents, but that’s not what “dime” in “get off the dime” meant. Dancing with man after man for hours on end was tiring business, and the women often draped themselves over their partners and moved their feet as little as possible, no more than the width of a dime. Although the men didn’t object, dance hall managers did. That sort of mobility might lead to hankypanky that would invite attention from the police and other enforcers of public morality. “Get off the dime” was the order, whereupon the women were then obliged to take more energetic dance steps."
I did not know that.
Here's another:
"below the salt: less socially acceptable, socially inferior. Due to the difficulty of production in cold climates, salt was an expensive and exclusive commodity in medieval England. At that time, the nobility sat at the dining hall’s “high table” whereas their servants and other commoners ate at lower trestle tables. Dishes or containers of salt were placed on the high table where only people of sufficient social rank had access to them. To be “below [or beneath] the salt” came to mean being less well regarded than other people."
Good to know.
A lot of the "endangered phrases" don't seem to be endangered, unless I am getting on in years and they are being lost among Generation X. Are "bite the bullet" and "black sheep" really going the way of "23 Skidoo"? On the other hand, I was baffled the first time I heard this one in conversation:
"round heels: promiscuous. The image is that of a woman who is such a pushover that the heels of her shoes became rounded from her being pushed over backwards so frequently. The phrase was popular in men’s dormitories and barracks until the sexual revolution changed attitudes. Other obsolescent phrases and expressions were “a scarlet woman,” “a woman of easy virtue,” “loose [or “low”] morals,” a “tramp.” On the other hand, men were applauded for being a “lady’s man,” a “cocksman,” a “Romeo,” or a “Casanova,” all of which demonstrate which gender controlled the language."
So, you get the drift.
If you like words and language, or you are interested in writing, this is a good book.
I'm a "word nerd." I like unusual and uncommon words and phrases. I enjoy looking up word etymologies and pondering the connections between "mega" and "major."
This book presents an odd assortment of phrases in alphabetical order and provides a brief explanation of the phrase's meaning and origin. Thus, we end up with entries like the following:
"balling the jack: to move rapidly. A “jack” was a railroad term for locomotive. “Ball” referred to the round electric signal that indicated the speed at which a train should travel. The fastest speed indicated by the signal was at its highest point, which indicated to an engineer that his locomotive could “highball it down the line.” Other trainmen would say the engineer was “balling the jack.” The phrase came into general usage from a 1913 ragtime song of the same name. The lyrics gave instructions to do a similarly named dance (“First you put your two knees close up tight, you swing ’em to the left and then you swing ’em to the right …”)".
That makes me wonder whether the name of the '70's band, "Red Ball and Jack," was based loosely on this phrase.
And:
"get off the dime: to move or to stop wasting time. Back in the 1920s and ’30s, taxi dancers were female dance hall employees whose livelihood was dancing with any men who paid for the opportunity. The usual fee was ten cents, but that’s not what “dime” in “get off the dime” meant. Dancing with man after man for hours on end was tiring business, and the women often draped themselves over their partners and moved their feet as little as possible, no more than the width of a dime. Although the men didn’t object, dance hall managers did. That sort of mobility might lead to hankypanky that would invite attention from the police and other enforcers of public morality. “Get off the dime” was the order, whereupon the women were then obliged to take more energetic dance steps."
I did not know that.
Here's another:
"below the salt: less socially acceptable, socially inferior. Due to the difficulty of production in cold climates, salt was an expensive and exclusive commodity in medieval England. At that time, the nobility sat at the dining hall’s “high table” whereas their servants and other commoners ate at lower trestle tables. Dishes or containers of salt were placed on the high table where only people of sufficient social rank had access to them. To be “below [or beneath] the salt” came to mean being less well regarded than other people."
Good to know.
A lot of the "endangered phrases" don't seem to be endangered, unless I am getting on in years and they are being lost among Generation X. Are "bite the bullet" and "black sheep" really going the way of "23 Skidoo"? On the other hand, I was baffled the first time I heard this one in conversation:
"round heels: promiscuous. The image is that of a woman who is such a pushover that the heels of her shoes became rounded from her being pushed over backwards so frequently. The phrase was popular in men’s dormitories and barracks until the sexual revolution changed attitudes. Other obsolescent phrases and expressions were “a scarlet woman,” “a woman of easy virtue,” “loose [or “low”] morals,” a “tramp.” On the other hand, men were applauded for being a “lady’s man,” a “cocksman,” a “Romeo,” or a “Casanova,” all of which demonstrate which gender controlled the language."
So, you get the drift.
If you like words and language, or you are interested in writing, this is a good book.
August 21, 2022
Fun, and moderately educational. Some of the phrases I knew, and have even used, some I've never heard of. No references or footnotes, etc., and some of the explanations seem iffy. Also quite a few typos and other mistakes. But, as light reading and to answer occasional questions, it's fine.
April 8, 2023
Known and Unknown
There were phrases I was quite familiar knowing , and some that were entirely out of my purview. I also had flashbacks of memories long set aside. For me, a nice trip down memory lane. Yes, I am that old.
There were phrases I was quite familiar knowing , and some that were entirely out of my purview. I also had flashbacks of memories long set aside. For me, a nice trip down memory lane. Yes, I am that old.
April 5, 2023
Finally done.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
November 27, 2023I just cannot manage to get into Hoopla but the sample on Am'n was boring so never mind.
Nov. 2023
Nov. 2023
December 30, 2012
I think some of these are not as endangered as one might think, but so too there were plenty of phrases I hadn't heard of, and even more still that I am often exposed to without the right connotations. This was a nice volume to scan. There are some great details for some of these phrases, while others are quite lacking in origin and usage. Overall I'm happy that this compilation exists and hopefully I may bring a few of these phrases back into the mainstream.
October 17, 2011
Fun to see the many phrases I know (and use), though apparently it marks me as an old fogy.
August 16, 2017
To use a couple of the "Endangered Phrases", this book is "the bee's knees" and "the cat's pajamas" ... Delightful and fun!
May 7, 2012
This book is so fun! The cover design is absurdly bad though.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews