There
are a lot of ways I could go with this chosen word. I could talk about the name
Jack, which always brings to mind Jack Tripper from the show Three’s Company.
Jack the Ripper who I don’t like to think about at all. Jack in the box. The
term ‘jack off’ came to mind, but I’m not headed there. And the list goes on
and on.
I’d
like to write about the phrase “And before he could say jack.” It’s very
popular here in Ghana and every time I hear it I smile and wonder why people
would say jack in the first place. Today, you get the scoop about what the
phrase means.
According
to The Phrase Finder it is based on a man named Jack Robinson. This is part of
what they have to say.
It would be pleasing to be able to point to a historical figure
called Robinson who was the source of this expression. Regrettably, we can't.
It could well be that there was an actual Jack Robinson who was reputed to be
quick in some way, but, if that's the case, any reliable record of him has
disappeared. It is just as likely that Jack Robinson was a mythical figure and
no more real than Jack Tar, Jack Frost or Jack the Giant Killer.
It is known that the phrase was in circulation by the end of the
18th century as Mme. Frances D'Arblay (Fanny Burney) used it then in her
romantic novel Evelina, or
the history of a young lady's entrance into the world in 1778.
"Done!" cried Lord Merton; "I take your
odds."
"Will you?" returned he; "why, then, 'fore
George, I'd do it as soon as say Jack Robinson."
Hmmm.
So I’ve linked up the popular jack phrase with romance after all. Go me!
Are
there any phrases that tickle you that you have no clue about where they came
from?
Check out the other blogs participating in the A to Z challenge.
Check out the other blogs participating in the A to Z challenge.
Ha! I didn't know that about that phrase. Gotta love the history of some phrases.
ReplyDeleteEverything has a basis, mostly.
DeleteI don't think I've ever heard that phrase - a fun post on it's origin. This has certainly been a educational week for me learning new phrases, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I had heard it before coming to Ghana. It is a very popular phrase here.
DeleteIs it a strange coincidence??? We both picked J for JACK!!! Although, mine stands for my brother named Jack. It's a great name!
ReplyDeleteThere are no coincidences, or so they say. It's cool that we chose the same word.
DeleteFascinating! There are all kinds of Jacks, us storytellers know quite a few of them. Jack is... well, Jack :)
ReplyDeleteCheers to A to Z!
LOL. Jack is everywhere.
DeleteInteresting topic. I've heard that phrase so much, but never really thought about where it came from. As to your question, I know there was a phrase I was wondering about just a couple of days ago...but I don't remember what it was! Wow it's great to be senile at 30 ...
ReplyDeleteAnyway. Happy Blogging!
Kaye Draper at Write Me
Senile at thirty- LOL. I think that's when senility begins for most of us. Thanks for commenting Kaye.
DeleteAnother "jack" phrase is "Cut me some slack, jack." I think it was also the name of a song.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog! :)
Thanks for another jack saying Sarah. It sounds like something from the 70's.
Deletewe sure do like saying that phrase in Ghana. I use it a lot myself. I think It's got a lot to do with being slippery and all
ReplyDeleteThe first time I heard the saying, my friend was telling a serious story and I laughed.
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