Sun Idioms

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

Under the sun – as in anywhere in the world – is first seen as early as the late 12th century.

The sun never sets is a Spanish phrase quickly translated to English and both dating from around the 1630s.

Having one’s ‘place in the sun’ first appears in English in the translation of Pascal’s Pensees.

The ‘sun is over the foreyard’ (note not the yard arm) is first seen in the 17th century, it marking the time it is traditionally acceptable to have the first alcoholic drink of the day – roughly corresponds to noon.

While ‘basking in the sun’ is found from the middle of the 15th century ….

….. it took until 1821 for suntan to become a verb, and until 1888 as a noun.

Sun tan oil is not seen until 1934.

Sun dress is first recorded in 1937 in an advertisement, prior to that (since 1929) the term had been ‘sun back dress’.

Sundials are first seen in the 1590s – at least the term is – for the technology had been known for centuries. Prior to this they were simply referred to as ‘dials’.

Sun-drying of fruit and vegetables is not a new thing by any means, the term has been in use since the 1630s and the process for millennia.

Sun dance, the movement not the film character, has only been recorded since 1849 – undoubtedly dances to herald and praise the sun must have been around since before recorded history, but not referred to as sun dances.

Sun tanning may be a fairly modern phrase, but sun bathing has been around since 1866 in a cosmetic sense and since 1600 for therapeutic purposes.

Sun wake is the rays of the setting sun glinting on the water. Sailors would claim a narrow wake signaled good weather, with bad weather forecast by a broad wake.

Nobody wore a sun bonnet, that with a projection in front to protect the face and another to protect the neck, until 1837.

Think the sun lamp is a new invention? Nope, first named in 1885.

Sun worship, in the religious sense, is first used to describe such in 1670; but the phrase to refer to one who habitually sun bathes is not seen until 1941.

Sunburn has been described since 1520, at least in the modern sense, prior to that it referred to drying out (usually bricks) under the suns rays.

Sunset is seen from the late 14th century; for the Saxons the word was sunnansetlgong while sunset for them simply meant ‘the west’.

Sunrise is seen from the middle of the 15th century, prior to that it was used to mean ‘the east’.

Ride off into the sunset, the stereotypical ending for a Hollywood Western production, is unheard of before 1963.

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.

The Oscars

In the week of the 84th Academy Awards ceremony will see little gold statues handed out to various individuals, most I will never have heard of and probably never will. My knowledge of the motion picture industry is limited, VERY limited. If I recognise an actor or actress it is a minor miracle, if I know their name they are part of a very exclusive club indeed.

Yet I know what I like and have always considered the addition of "Winner of the Best Picture Oscar" means it marks this offering in the 'avoid like the plague' category. So before I know which film I should make a mental note to shun at all costs this year, I decided to do a little research and see which recipients of the Best Picture Oscar I have actually seen and what I recall.

2010 The King's Speech - haven't seen it and, from what I understand, has no interest for me whatsoever.

2009 The Hurt Locker and I have to admit I've never heard of it, which probably tells me I'm missing nothing

2008 Slumdog Millionaire I actually know what this film is about, which is sufficient for me to know I have no interest in it whatsoever

2007 No Country for Old Men is another I've never heard of

2006 The Departed doesn't ring any bells either

2005 Crash is the third in a row I've no recollection of

2004 Million Dollar Baby I think this was about a woman boxing, not going out of my way for that then but at least I have a vague notion of what it was about.

2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and at last one I not only saw but went out of my way to see at the cinema! Really liked this film. However it was a pity to ruin a quite excellent trilogy with that dopey singing near the end.

2002 Chicago I think this might have been a musical, but then it might not and I shall never find out.

2001 A Beautiful Mind I've certainly heard of this, which must please the producers greatly considering my record thus far. However they shouldn't celebrate too much, not seen it and unlikely to do so.

2000 Gladiator and another one I've seen! Didn't see this at the cinema, caught it on Sky, I think. Liked it, too, especially the decapitation bit.

1999 American Beauty I have a vague recollection of the title but not seen it nor will I.

1998 Shakespeare in Love might tell me what it's about. However I loathed the bugger when I was forced to play Malvolio at school and certainly have no interest in his love life.

1997 Titanic yes fabulous, three hours of film (I think I recall this being banded about) and we knew what happened at the end even before they released it. In case you haven't seen it, the ship sinks.

1996 The English Patient I do remember this title and that's about it.

1995 Braveheart another one I saw, not at the cinema but years later on the BBC (I think). I remember being bored senseless by it and some shouting at the end.

1994 Forrest Gump is another I saw, although it was at least ten years after release when I did. Rather liked it, too. I was convinced by someone to give it a chance and it turned out to be worthwhile.

1993 Schindler's List is one of those I've heard of, know little about and have no intention of seeing.

1992 Unforgiven I have never heard of.

1991The Silence of the Lambs I believe is something about a cannibal? Not going out of my way for that either.

1990 Dances With Wolves another I've heard of but never seen and never will (unless someone offers me a lot of money).

1989 Driving Miss Daisy I have some recollection of the title character being an old woman? No, not seeing this either.

1988 Rain Man I believe Dustin Hoffman was in this, wasn't he?

1987 The Last Emperor I saw on the television years later. Liked it, although it was a bit on the lengthy side.

1986 Platoon stunned to recall I saw this at the cinema, but then recalled I was dragged along by someone even less memorable than the film. It was about a war (Vietnam?) and I think I liked it.

1985 Out of Africa no, not seen this and have no intention of doing so as I don't think it's a Sir David Attenborough creation.

1984 Amadeus don't even recall the film, yet I'm guessing it was linked with Mozart

1983 Terms of Endearment, don't remember this either!

1982 Ghandi, now this I have heard of but not seen and unlikely to.

1981 Chariots of Fire, well I know the tune! Does that count?

1980 Ordinary People never heard of it!

1979 Kramer vs Kramer, now this I do know something about and I think I saw about five minutes of this where Dustin Hoffman was making french toast. I didn't hang around long enough to see anything more.

1978 The Deer Hunter I know was a Vietnam War thing and Hank Marvin played a cover version of the theme tune at some time.

1977 Annie Hall was a Woody Allen creation, I believe. Not seen it though.

1976 Rocky I saw on television in the days before subtitles were commonplace, couldn't understand a word Stallone said but the fight scenes were reasonably good.

1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest I also saw on the television about 20 years after release. As a film it wasn't bad at all.

1974 The Godfather Part II I was forced to watch, along with the other two, about three years ago by the same person who pointed me in the direction of Forrest Gump. I would have rather have endured every episode of Peyton Place back to back.

1973 The Sting starred Newman and Redford I think, never saw it though.

1972 The Godfather Part I (see 1974)

1971 The French Connection is a film I have heard of but know nothing whatsoever about.

1970 Patton must have been about the general but I can't be certain as I never saw it.

1969 Midnight Cowboy I know from my days writing quizzes it was the first X-rated film to win this Oscar. Despite this the vast majority of my school chums claimed to have seen it (we would have been 13 in 1969) but to this day I never have.

1968 Oliver! was a film even I failed to avoid, which was a shame because the eponymous character was played by that irritating little sh*t.

1967 In the Heat of the Night rings no bells whatsoever

1966 A Man for All Seasons I have heard of, but never seen

1965 The Sound of Music I have seen most of it, although spread over a great number of years. I still have no idea of the storyline other than kids and a nun and some Nazis.

1964 My Fair Lady is another musical but not quite as bad as the previous effort. Like the original GBS version though. I admit my opinion of this celluloid offering decreased measurably when I discovered it beat Becket to the Oscar, Becket is quite simply the best film ever made.

1963 Tom Jones I have never heard of before.

1962 Lawrence of Arabia I have seen, many, many years ago, but remember nothing but the title character riding a motorcycle.

1961 West Side Story, another musical and I've never seen it.

1960 The Apartment of course I've seen The Apartment it's one of my favourites.

1959 Ben-Hur I know what it's about but I've never seen it.

1958 Gigi I have heard of and, of course, never seen.

1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai, a war film, never seen it.

1956 Around the World in 80 Days, I've read the book, but I know that doesn't count.

I shall stop there as while the Oscars existed prior to 1956 I didn't and anyway I think that's enough to show my lack of appreciation for most popular films. However it doesn't explain why I've just taken out membership of the Odeon Premiere Club loyalty scheme.