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Idioms with Names:

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

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Idioms with Names:

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  1. Idioms with Names: History of English Language • Meanings and Origins Chris Jianglin Terri Yeh

  2. 1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson • ORIGIN • Fictitious figure: Jack Robinson Jack Robinson

  3. 1. Before You Can Say Jack Robinson • MEANING • (A) very quickly • (B) very naughtily • (C) very ridiculously • Before you could say Jack Robinson, the bird flew away.

  4. 2. Benjamin of the Family • MEANING • The youngest son in the family • (Especially when he is much younger than his brothers) • In modern use: + female children • Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religions

  5. 2. Benjamin of the Family • ORIGIN • Story of Jacob in the Book of Genesis • Jacob and Esau • Benjamin = “right hand son” in Hebrew • Origin of the name Benjamin

  6. 3. Freudian Slip • MEANING • an 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

  7. 3. Freudian Slip • ORIGIN • Named after Sigmund Freud • The Psychopathology of Life

  8. 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

  9. 4. Jack-of-all-trades • MEANING • Macmillan Dictionary: • Someone who can do many types of work • Jacks-of-all-trades • “Jacks of all trades, master of none”

  10. 4. Jack-of-all-trades • ORIGIN • A term of praise • Commonly used during the 17th century • Jack = “man” • 1618 – GeffrayMynshul’sEssays and Characters of a Prison • A master of integration  generalist • Polymath?

  11. 5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe • MEANING • John/ Jane Doe: anonymous or unknown defendant • Richard/ Jane Roe: anonymous or unknown plantiff • Nowadays, 1) an unnamed person in legal proceedings 2) an anonymous average citizen 3) a corpse or hospital patient whose identity is unknown

  12. 5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe • ORIGIN A: landlord C: tenant B: notional landlord

  13. 5. John Doe / Jane DoeRichard Roe / Jane Roe • ORIGIN • Why is Doe and Roe? • doe: venison; roe: kind of fish • TODAY • Baby Doe; Princess Doe • If my actual name is John Doe…?

  14. 6. John Hancock • MEANING • A person’s signature • Informal use in American English

  15. 6. John Hancock • ORIGIN • John Hancock was President of Congress, signing Declaration of Independence • Why?

  16. 7. Keep up with the Joneses • MEANING • to try to achieve the same social position and wealth as one's neighbors or acquaintances

  17. 7. Keep up with the Joneses • ORIGIN • The Jones: Edith Wharton’s father; rich New York family • New Yorkers build country villas in the Hudson Valley • TODAY • Negative effect: conspicuous consumption

  18. 8. The Real McCoy • MEANING • The real thing, the genuine article • M. Dict.: Something that is real and not a copy

  19. 8. The Real McCoy • ORIGIN • Michael Quinion of the WWW: Kid McCoy story • Norman Selby – an American champion boxer • (1) to distinguish himself • (2) “Which is the real McCoy?” • (3) “It’s the real McCoy.”

  20. 8. The Real McCoy • ORIGIN • First recording occurred in James S. Bond’s The Rise and Fall of the “Union club” (1881)

  21. 9. Rip Van Winkle • MEANING • a person who is oblivious to changes, especially in social attitudes or thought • a person who sleeps a lot

  22. 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…

  23. 10. Uncle Sam • MEANING • Macmillan Dictionary: • A way of referring to the US or the US government • The expression comes from the abbr “US”

  24. 10. Uncle Sam • ORIGIN • Came into use during the War of 1812 • Samuel Wilson – a meat packer • “E.A – US.” • By 1850s, Brother Jonathan ≒ Uncle Sam • Near the end of the Civil War (1861-65) = “Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam”?

  25. 10. Uncle Sam • ORIGIN • James Montgomery Flagg • Irish language: StáitAontaitheMheiriceá (The United States of America)

  26. References • “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

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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. 2013http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Rip+Van+Winkle • Grose, Francis. A classical dictionary of the vulgar tongue. Ed. Eric Partridge. London : Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1963. Print.

  30. The End The End

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