Spring Idioms

Several words have become part of the language in being used in phrases. Last time we looked at ‘bomb’ and now look at ‘spring’.

Spring has more than one use, the word referring to the metal coil which proves so useful in keeping us comfortable and also in a clockwork mechanism. Both these can be traced back to Germanic words meaning ‘burst, jump, etc’. Yet we also use ‘spring’ to refer to a water source, this can also be traced back to the same origins, and the season we now find ourselves in – at least in the northern hemisphere. This last usage is rather different as it comes from Proto-Indo-European sper meaning ‘to spread, sow’ and therefore taken from the action of sowing before those seeds burst forth into plants; later giving a name to the season when such planting happens. Note the action of spreading or sowing sees the seeds spread more sparsely – and ‘sparse’ also has its origins in the Proto-Indo-European sper.

Spring fever is seen from 1843, a reference to romantic feelings. Prior to that it was used to refer to a head cold, or to any minor ailment.

Spring roll, as in the cuisine, is first seen in 1943.

Spring chicken may be used to mean ‘young person’ today – although usually used in the negative as in ‘no spring chicken’ – but that has only been true since 1906. Before the 20th century, specifically since 1780, it referred to the bird aged 11 to 14 weeks.

Spring training today is used almost exclusively in referring to baseball; but before 1889 the same phrase spoke of the gathering together of military forces after a winter of little action.

Spring tides rise at or shortly after the full moon and are higher than the norm and is seen since 1520. The reference to the season is simply an erroneous ‘springtime’. Prior to 1520 these high tides (not confined to the season) had been known as a ‘spring flood’.

Springtime itself had been used for the season since at least the late 14th century.

Offspring were unknown before 1600. Prior to that we find ‘ofspring’, ‘ospring’, and ‘oxspring’.

Springboard, and this is in the sense of the board used for vaulting, surprisingly comes from as early as 1774. Clearly the metaphorical sense came later.

Springtails are insects using bristles at their rear end to aid in leaping. Known as such since 1797, the species has been around for millions of years and thus not known as such for most of their existence.

Mainspring, as in the primary spring in a mechanism, is first seen in 1590 – although it is not clear whether the clock or the gun was first to use the term.

Springbok, the gazelle synonymous with South Africa, is named from the Afrikaans meaning ‘to leap’ and has been known as such since 1775. Prior to that they were known to the locals as ‘trekbokke’ – amongst others.

Bomb Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'dog' last time and this time it's 'bomb'.

Bomb has had, at least for most of its existence, the one use as referring to an explosive – all related to Greek bombos and Latin bombus meaning ‘a deep, hollow, or booming sound’ and thus named from the sound the explosive made. But since the middle of the 20th century, ‘bomb’ suddenly took on other uses: from 1953 it referred to an old car; from the following year it meant entirely the opposite of ‘success’; then in 1961 we find it swinging back to its earlier usage with ‘a failure’.

Bomb is also used from 1966 to mean ‘travel quickly’.

Bombed is used as a slang term for ‘drunk by 1956.

The atomic bomb is first recorded in 1945.

Bomb-proof is seen for the first time in writing in 1702, that source being the Century Disctionary and so it must already have been in use. We also find ‘bomb-proof’ used as contemptuous slang for those who were never exposed to the dangers of war (for whatever reason) in 1755, that war being the US Civil War.

Bombshell, referring to the casing of the explosive, is first seen in 1708; the term is first used to express shattering or shocking news in 1859; and as a reference to a very attractive (particularly blonde) female by 1942. This latter reference is almost certainly a result of the film released in 1937. Originally entitled Bombshell, it was renamed The Blond Bombshell before release. Starring Jean Harlow, it is said to have been based on screen star Clara Bow.

Nobody carpet-bombed anywhere until 1945.

The firebomb, referring to an explosive designed to create a conflagration, is first referred to in 1895 although the term had earlier been used to describe a firework and also a cannonball. It is seen as verb from 1941 to describe a military aviation manoeuvre, and from 1945 to describe acts of vandalism or terrorism.

Dog Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'cat' last time and this time, rather predictably, it's 'dog'.

Surprisingly people were living ‘a dog’s life’ as early as 1600…….

….. and ten years later they were ‘going to the dogs’.

Prior to that, in the 1520s, we find the expression ‘dog cheap’, which is either rarely used today or has been largely replaced by ‘dirt cheap’.

In Greek, Roman and Indian cultures of antiquity, the worst throw in dice was known as ‘the dog’ – and the the luckiest player was known as the ‘dog killer’. The latter is probably seen in the Greek word kindynos which may be used to mean ‘danger’ but could be translated as ‘play the dog’.

Every dog has ‘had its day’ since 1550 – and not only do we know when but whom, for this was found in the correspondence of none other than Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1836 we find the expression ‘dog’s age’ referring to ‘a long time’.

The compertitive ‘dog eat dog’ is first seen in the 1850s.

The phrase ‘put on the dog’ is seen from 1934; used to mean ‘to dress one’s best’, it probably dates from the time when the stiff collar was known as the dog collar.

Dogged, in the sense of ‘persistent, obstinate’, is first used in 1779. Dogged had been used since 1300 in a derogatory sense to mean ‘surly, contemptible’; and two centuries later to mean ‘cruel, malicious’.

If you’ve heard someone complain ‘the dogs are barking’ when referring to their feet hurting, it comes from the rhyming slang ‘dog’s meat’ = feet; first seen in 1913.

Hotdogs were first served and named around 1890; although cartoonist Tad Dorgan had gone on record (and several times) saying he suspected this food item contained dog meat. It should be noted there has never been any suggestion this was why they were named.

Hot dog was also used to describe someone skilled (and knowing it) to the point of showing off by 1896; and ten years later as an expression of approval.

The long dry days of summer, known as dog days, get that name because of the position of Sirius in the night sky. Sirius being known as the Dog Star.

Dog-gone (said to be a more polite version of god-damned) appears for the first time in 1849.

Dog tag, the identity discs worn by some military, appears in 1918 and is thought to allude to the similarity between these and those on dog collars.

Sea dog is first seen at the end of the 16th century, but used to refer to a harbour seal. It is used to describe pirates from aroyund 1650, and old seamen and sailors from about 1823. Note in Middle English (pre-Tudor times) ‘sea-hound’ was the term used to describe both the walrus (which does go to sea) and the beaver (which doesn’t).

Nobody swam using doggy-paddle until 1860.

Dogs never wore a dog collar until the 1520s.

Cat Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'dig' last time and this time it's 'cat'.

Cat’s paw from 1769 and cat’s foot from 1590, is a term derived from the folktale where a monkey (usually) convinces a cat to use its claw to remove chestnuts from a fire. Monkey gets chestnuts, cat gets a burned foot or paw.

Cat burglar is first coined in 1907.

Cat’s miaow or cat’s whiskers (and even cat’s pyjamas) is used to mean the same thing as ‘bee’s knees’, ie the very best, and seen from 1923. We can also find more obscure references, with the same meaning, such as canary’s tusks, cat’s nuts, dog’s bollocks, and flea’s eyebrows.

Cat witted is seen from the 1670s, and while now almost obsolete is worth mentioning for its meaning of ‘obstinate, spiteful’.

Nobody let the cat out of the bag before 1760, and seems to be a poor translation of the French Acheter chat en poche.

Fraidy cat may be more west side of the Atlantic than east, but worth noting it is first seen in 1816, and seems to have been coined by those descended from those brought to the Americas by slave traders. From 1906 the phrase ‘scaredy cat’ is also seen.

Kit-cat was a club founded by Whig politicians in London and named after Christopher ‘Kit’ Catling.

Schroedinger’s car is first coined in 1972, which is rather odd as the famous thought experiment by Erwin Schroedinger appeared in writing in 1935. Perhaps it took 37 years to open the box.

Cat bath, cat wash, or cat lick, all used to describe a wash (usually by a child) which is done merely to obey the parent and doesn’t really perform the ablutions as demanded.

Similarly cat-nap, where the sleeper isn’t really sleeping, is seen from 1823.

Cat-lap is seen from 1785, and today (albeit becoming obsolete) mostly used to refer to weak tea, although traditionally applied to any insipid beverage.

Wildcat has had no less five uses: from the 12th century as a surname; from the 14th century to refer to the undomesticated cat (usually said to be a Scottish Wild Cat); in the sense ‘savage woman’ from 1570; as ‘one who tends to act rashly (particularly with plans or projects) from 1812; and in the financial sense from 1838.

The catkin, the flower spike of trees such as the willow, is named for its soft, fluffy appearance and is seen from around 1570.

Dig Idioms

Several words have found themselves used in a number of phrases. We looked at 'egg' last time and this time it's 'dig'.

Dig is first used to describe an archaeological expedition in 1896.

Dig is used to mean a prod or poke (often with the elbow in the ribs) from 1819.

Digs is first seen as a slang term for ‘lodgings’ in 1893, but the term ‘diggings’ had been in use since at least 1838.

Whether I can include dugout or not is likely a matter of personal opinion, but I am because the dugout canoe is one of the earliest technologies (albeit not so much dug out as burned out) – however, not seen in print until 1722.

The dug out is also an area alongside the playing area where coaches, medical team, other players would be located during play. This sense is first seen in 1914.

Shindig is probably getting close to becoming obsolete, but for those who remember this reference to a party, dance, or lively gathering, it is first seen in 1821 – it is thought to have originally been used as ‘shinty’.

And on the subject of music, nobody ever used the slang term ‘dig’ to suggest they rather liked the latest musical offering until the late 1950s.