49 - A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom

[Larissa]

I started reading ‘The Tales of Beedle the Bard’ by JK Rowling and it has commentary by Albus Dumbledore. In the tale ‘The Warlock’s Hairy Heart’, Dumbledore’s commentary says that tale made the phrase ‘to have a hairy heart’ a common wizarding phrase so I’m going to count that as a win for covering this prompt since none of the other books I’m seeing so far have interested me. A bit of a stretch but oh well.

[Jackie]

Larissa wrote: "I started reading ‘The Tales of Beedle the Bard’ by JK Rowling and it has commentary by Albus Dumbledore. In the tale ‘The Warlock’s Hairy Heart’, Dumbledore’s commentary says that tale made the ph..."

Haha that's great. After all, they didn't say it had to be a common phrase in the real world...Or is it the real world? ;)

[Judy]

If you don't mind a long book, Gone With the Wind includes such gems as "frankly my dear, I don't give a damn" (well, that was in the movie, and apparently some version in the book) and "I'll think about that tomorrow".

[My Bookish Delights]

Cendaquenta wrote: "What about Pride and Prejudice - "it is a truth universally acknowledged"?"

Oh my gosh yay! I will be rereading this anyway this year. :)

[Kara]

The only ones I've seen mentioned that are written by women (Harry Potter, Hunger Games. Pride and Prejudice), I've already read. Any other books written by women that would fit this category? I'd love to read a classic for this prompt since most of my other picks are more contemporary. I think this one is the most difficult one I've found to keep with my all female author theme. I'm being rather strict in my interpretation of the category.

[Josie]

I might re-read A Christmas Carol for this. If not I'll probably read Frankenstein as I've been meaning to read it for ages!

[Rayne]

Would Lolita fit this category?

[Abbie]

Kara wrote: "The only ones I've seen mentioned that are written by women (Harry Potter, Hunger Games. Pride and Prejudice), I've already read. Any other books written by women that would fit this category? I'd ..."

Frankenstein and Gone With The Wind have both been mentioned already, but they're by women. Has anyone suggested Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beacher Stowe? I think that would work... I haven't read it but I'd consider it a classic. To Kill a Mockingbird would also work, I think, both for the title and the way some of the characters have become synonymous with certain types (I saw a really great Boo Radley reference recently and now I'm blanking on what it was...)

[Nadine in NY]

Rayne wrote: "Would Lolita fit this category?"

If you count the name "Lolita" as a common idiom, then yes. (The character's actual name is Dolores - only HH calls her "Lolita.") I can't think of much else from that book that has become a common phrase.

[Ellie]

Nadine wrote: "Rayne wrote: "Would Lolita fit this category?"

If you count the name "Lolita" as a common idiom, then yes. (The character's actual name is Dolores - only HH calls her "Lolita.") I can't think of m..."

I would count it for the fact Lolita is used to describe a Japanese fashion trend.

[Fiona]

All The President's Men Carl Bernstein /Bob Woodward would work well for this challenge. "show me the money" is the idiom it spawned.

[Angelina]

Really struggling with this one, something wicked this way comes is the first one I’d think of but I can’t think of anything worse than reading Shakespeare so not considering that! So can’t think of anything at all...

The only other thing I have is little grey cells for poirot bout I’d read every Agatha Christie book written.

[Kim]

My favorite is "Curioser and curioser", from Alice and Wonderland. I use that one all the time. But I've already read that book, and so many others discussed in this thread, so I'll keep popping in here from time to time. I think this is one prompt that will be one of my last to fill...

[Cheryl]

I think I got this wrong. I picked a book that used an idiom in the title. I may continue to look.

[Anne]

Not sure if someone mentioned it already, but the phrase "There ain't such thing as a free lunch" comes from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein.

[Cheryl]

Megan wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "I picked "off base". or ;)"

But did that book specifically *inspire* the phrase off-base?"

No. I realized that today. I'll look a little longer for something else.

I have settled on
I called my ex "Jekyll and Hyde" a few times.

[Nadine in NY]

Anne wrote: "Not sure if someone mentioned it already, but the phrase "There ain't such thing as a free lunch" comes from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein."

He used a well-known idiom in his book, so he did not create it, but you could perhaps say he popularized it if you wanted to read this book for this category.

This category is REALLY difficult!!

[Emily]

Kara wrote: "The only ones I've seen mentioned that are written by women (Harry Potter, Hunger Games. Pride and Prejudice), I've already read. Any other books written by women that would fit this category? I'd ..."

Wuthering Heights-- I have heard people described as Catherine/Heathcliff... or the tumultuous love affair itself.
Gone with the Wind "My dear, I don't give a damn." (There is no "frankly" in the book).
Eat, Pray, Love-- the title has been used, referenced in movies and other literature.
To Kill a Mockingbird- Multiple from here; usually the character names or the title itself.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: again, title.
Jane Eyre: "Reader, I married him"- countless references to this quote.
Frankenstein- Mary Shelley: my personal life; "for the last time, Frankenstein is not the monster!"
Strangers on a Train or The Price of Salt- Patricia Highsmith
Beloved- Toni Morrison
The Help- Kathryn Stockett

[Anne]

Nadine wrote: "He used a well-known idiom in his book, so he did not create it, but you could perhaps say he popularized it if you wanted to read this book for this category."

You're absolutely correct, I realized it later, but I still think it counts in terms of popularizing it. Alas, I have already read it, but there seem to be plenty more books to pick from for this prompt.

[Angelina]

I’m thinking about the three laws of robotics by Isaac Asimov. I think they are written in full in runaround which appears in I, Robot and have been used in every robot sci-fi book or film since. Would these rules count?

[Emily]

Angel wrote: "I’m thinking about the three laws of robotics by Isaac Asimov. I think they are written in full in runaround which appears in I, Robot and have been used in every robot ..."

Yes! Asimov devised these rules, included them in his own novels, and altered them later on. Other authors have used these in their works and altered them as well. Any fan of sci-fi would know what you meant by saying "The Three Laws!"

[Jess]

Cheryl wrote: ".I have settled on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror by Robert Louis Stevenson
I called my ex "Jekyll and Hyde" a few times. "

I'm using this too. I've definitely heard people say.

'Are you Jekyll or Hyde today?'

[Bree]

I'd already started Moby-Dick on audiobook before finding this challenge, so I'm going to use it for this prompt. I absolutely can't listen to ten more hours of whale facts without the promise of checking a prompt off at the end of it.

[Mrs. Hahn]

Raquel wrote: "Ooh, it just occurred to me that How the Grinch Stole Christmas! counts here, since calling people Grinch is about as common now as calling them Scrooge.

There are probably other [a..."

Christmas Carol would also work for Ghost Story, which is in the main PS challenge...

[Beth]

Theresa wrote: ""He Who Shall Not Be Named" - from Harry Potter - has to qualify.



I was thinking of Harry Potter too! So many phrases or terms coined in those books!
"Muggle"
"The boy who lived"
"I solemnly swear I'm up to no good"

[Courtney]

I'll Be There for You: The One about Friends by Kelsey Miller, this is my favorite show. I can't wait to read it.

[Abby]

"What is essential is invisible to the eye" - The Little Prince

[Tara]

I think I might read Edna St. Vincent Millay's 1920 poetry collection, A Few Figs from Thistles, which includes the poem First Fig and the famous line, "my candle burns at both ends."

[Brandy]

Catch-22 is one of my all time favorite books.

I'll probably read something Shakespearean here. Especially if i could find something good in the comedies. I don't think I've ever read a Shakespearean comedy.

[Katy]

Brandy wrote: "Catch-22 is one of my all time favorite books.

I'll probably read something Shakespearean here. Especially if i could find something good in the comedies. I don't think I've ever re..."

I can't readily think of a phrase, unless you count the fact that the hockey puck was named after Puck, but I loved a Midsummer Night's Dream.

[Julie]

Katy wrote: "I can't readily think of a phrase, unless you count the fact that the hockey puck was named after Puck, but I loved a Midsummer Night's Dream."

I believe "all of a sudden" and "break the ice" are actually attributed to Taming of the Shrew. "I've seen better days" and "too much of a good thing" are from As You Like It, I think (one of my favorites), and "lie low" should be Much Ado About Nothing. I'm pretty sure there are others as well, though.

[Erie]

'Sleeping with the fishes' comes from The Godfather by Mario Puzo. “The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean,” he said. “It’s an old Sicilian message.”

May be a play on a phrase from Homer's The Iliad-- "Lie there now among the fish..."

[Ketutar]

Now, I might be wrong, but in my mind "quotable" isn't the same as "coining a common phrase or idiom". A noticeable quote everyone knows is a quote or a catch phrase isn't a common phrase or idiom. In my mind it's things like "peas in a pod" or "pot calling a kettle black", something everyone uses without knowing it's from a book. Which is why all these books are bound to not be modern.
https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/...
And the thing with reading challenges is that they are supposed to be challenging... so trying to find something you think you would like is kind of not challenging. Read Shakespeare, read Chaucer, you might like it, or at least grow by the experience.

[Angelina]

Ketutar wrote: "Now, I might be wrong, but in my mind "quotable" isn't the same as "coining a common phrase or idiom". A noticeable quote everyone knows is a quote or a catch phrase isn't a common phrase or idiom...."

I might just reread the Iliad or the odyssey by Homer but I had really hoped to not do any rereads as I wanted to read new things by completing this challenge. for anyone whose not read these I had to read them whilst studying and they are not that bad.

[Angelina]

Erie wrote: "'Sleeping with the fishes' comes from The Godfather by Mario Puzo. “The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean,” he said. “It’s an old Sicilia..."

Yeah it’s from the Iliad which isn’t any worse to read than the godfather tbh.

[Miriam]

When reading Macbeth by (of course) William Shakespeare recently I noticed that in the porter scene (Act II, Scene 3) the phrase "Knock knock - who's there?" was used (in ist comical meaning even!) I am going to assume this is the origin of all the modern 'knock knock- Who's there' jokes and might be counting this towards this prompt.

[Cara]

if you are looking for a short book option, I'm reading Common Sense. "Time makes more converts than reason"

[Lorna]

I'm going with Othello in an attempt to read more classics.

[Erie]

Angel wrote: "Erie wrote: "'Sleeping with the fishes' comes from The Godfather by Mario Puzo. “The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean,” he said. “It’s a..."

I actually quite love The Godfather (one of my favs) and The Iliad. :)

[Erie]

Ketutar wrote: "Now, I might be wrong, but in my mind "quotable" isn't the same as "coining a common phrase or idiom". A noticeable quote everyone knows is a quote or a catch phrase isn't a common phrase or idiom...."

I agree with half of this, at least. To me, the prompt calls for an idiom or a phrase not necessary 'quoted' in the book.

The example I gave about The Godfather/The Iliad, sleeping with the fishes, is an idiom. It wasn't directly quoted in either book. And it meets the definition of an idiom: An idiom is a phrase or an expression that has a figurative, or sometimes literal, meaning. Categorized as formulaic language, an idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.

A common phrase would be more like one from Alice in Wonderland, down the rabbit hole, which people use pretty commonly now for a variety of meanings, none of which have anything to do with quoting the book.

A quote would be more like: 'Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.' That is nothing but a quote and no one would use that phrase except to quote the book. For me, that wouldn't count, and I wouldn't use it for this prompt.

However, where I will, respectfully, disagree is that this challenge in particular is all about helping you choose what to read next. From the Popsugar challenge site: 'You may even discover a new genre, like "cli-fi" or "LitRPG," or finally get to that book that's been sitting on your TBR pile for months. Just remember: the point of the reading challenge is to get a few more books under your belt, try on some lesser-read genres for size, and — most importantly — to have fun!'

While it should be helping you read genres you might not always turn to first (for me this would be romance. I like very few romance novels, but the ones I do like, I really love. I don't pick up the ones on my TBR list often enough because sometimes I don't want to muck through the bad to get to the good), it isn't about reading a genre that you simply know you are probably not going to enjoy just to force yourself through a prompt (for example, I would never pick up a 'cozy mystery' for a prompt because that genre just doesn't interest me, and I know I'm not going to enjoy the book I'm reading for it. I would skip the prompt, or I would bend the rules slightly to fit something more my style.)

These prompts are simply a guide for picking what you want to read next, and 99% of my choices will come from books on my TBR list, or books that I find by your suggestions that I actually want to read. So while classics might be great for me and you, they are not going to work for everyone.

[Ellie]

Well said Erie. I think for most of us, the challenge is a bit of fun. If I wanted to challenge myself to read books I'm not particularly interested in, I would work through one of those "books you must read" lists.

Also bear in mind some phrases are common only in some places, communities or professions. Omnishambles was word of the year in the UK a few years ago and it came from a TV show (and is now used quite regularly to describe politics).

Anyway, I came here to ask about The Talented Mr Ripley which I'm sure someone mentioned. I just picked up a 99p ebook of it and was wondering what phrase it inspired (if at all)?

[Angelina]

Erie wrote: "Angel wrote: "Erie wrote: "'Sleeping with the fishes' comes from The Godfather by Mario Puzo. “The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean,” he..."

I like both, I meant if someone’s not sure about something new some of the ancient things aren’t as bad as they may think.... I personally would not recommend Shakespeare as was put off years ago but that’s a personal thing. I’m probably going for a reread of I,robot but I’m trying to not reread anything so was hoping to come across something new to try.

[Susan]

I read Stepford Wives for this.

[Nadine in NY]

Susan wrote: "I read Stepford Wives for this."


that's a really good idea! I just made that my back-up plan.

[Erie]

Angel wrote: "Erie wrote: "Angel wrote: "Erie wrote: "'Sleeping with the fishes' comes from The Godfather by Mario Puzo. “The fish means that Luca Brasi is sleeping on the bottom of t..."


I, robot is on my TBR list. Maybe it’s time I picked it up!

[Cendaquenta]

Just checked and I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet - Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit inspired the term "mansplaining".

[Yoo]

Cendaquenta wrote: "Just checked and I don't think anyone's mentioned this yet - Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit inspired the term "mansplaining"."

Ooh yes! Thanks, I might just use this one :)

[Brittany]

I'm reading the Song of Ice and Fire series this year, so I'm going to use A Game of Thrones here. "winter is coming" and "not a queen a khaleesi" are both super known, probably more from the tv series, but are also said in the books.

[Megan]

I'm going with Catch-22.

[Kay]

Reading Catch 22 right now.