Bang up to the Elephant (London, 1882): Perfect, complete, unapproachable. The 'Elephant' ( 'Elephant and Castle Tavern,' South London), had for years been the centre of South London tavern-life when (1882) Jumbo, an exceptionally large elephant at the Zoological Gardens, became popular through certain articles in the D. T.* The public were pleased to think Jumbo refused to leave England and the gardens for America. He, however, did ultimately, with no emotion, leave behind him this bit of passing English.
'The fly flat** thinks himself so blooming sharp, so right bang up to the elephant, that he's got an idea that no sharper*** would ever try to take him on.'
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| Jumbo at the opera, courtesy of an 1883 advertisement for cotton thread. Buek and Lindner [Public domain] |
knock for a loop. Also, throw for a loop; knock down or over with a feather; knock sideways—Overcome with surprise or astonishment... The first two of these hyperbolic colloquial usages, dating from the first half of the 1900s, allude to the comic-strip image of a person pushed hard enough to roll over in the shape of a loop. The third hyperbolic term, often put as You could have knocked me down with a feather, intimating that something so light as a feather could knock one down, dates from the early 1800s; the fourth was first recorded in 1925.
Hoodlum.—A young rough. The term originated in San Francisco, but is now general throughout the Union.
Of evenings, these corner grocery bar-rooms are largely patronized as "loafing-places," by the mechanics, laborers and idlers, whose homes are in the neighborhood. A simple lunch is set out here, and also a card table is provided. Here young men and middle-aged men, boys and grey beards congregate at night, to talk vulgar slang, play cards for "the drinks," and smoke and chew—to go home at a late hour with heavy heads and light purses. It is at these places that the youthful San Franciscan Hoodlums are developed.
THE Hoodlum had his origin in San Francisco. He is the offspring of San Francisco society. What particular phase in social life possesses the necessary fertility to produce such fruit is not obvious. It is certain, however, that the seed has been sown in productive soil, for the harvest is abundant.
The hoodlum has been called ''a ruffian in embryo." It would be a better definition to call him simply a ruffian. He has all the essential qualities of the villain. He is acquainted with crime in all its forms. The records of vice are his textbooks. He is a free-born American in its widest sense...
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| Beware the hoodlums! (The title of this illustration is, believe it or not, "The Future Presidents." I shall refrain from political comment, difficult though it is...) |
It requires nerve and courage to be a hoodlum. The boy has got to have the heart of a man, the courage of a lion, and the constitution of an Arab. Only one in a hundred gives him credit for half his worth. No one cares whether he grows fat or starves; whether Fortune lifts him up or casts him down; whether night finds him quarters in a box or a comfortable bed. He's a hoodlum, and hoodlums are generally supposed capable of getting along somehow, the same as a horse turned out to graze. Not one boy in ten can be a hoodlum. Nature never overstocks the market. If left an orphan the average boy dies, or has relatives to care for him, or falls in the way of a philanthropist and comes up a straight-haired young man with a sanctimonious look. The true hoodlum is born to the business. He swallows marbles and thimbles as soon as he can creep, begins to fall down stairs when a year old, and is found in the alley as soon as he can walk.
dressed to kill. Also, dressed to the nines. Elaborately attired... The first of these hyperbolic expressions dates from the early 1800s and uses kill in the sense of "to a great or impressive degree." The phrase to the nines in the sense of "superlative" dates from the late 1700s and its original meaning has been lost, but the most likely theory is that it alludes to the fact that nine, the highest single-digit numeral, stands for "best."Well, that's pretty interesting. So, maybe the enthusiastic "You killed it!" uses kill in this old-time sense.
... Dressed to kill first attested 1818 in a letter of Keats (compare killing (adj.) in the sense "overpowering, fascinating, attractive").Of course, I had to check out "killing (adj.)" just to complete my journey:
killing (adj.) mid-15c., "deadly, depriving of life," present-participle adjective from kill (v.). Meaning "overpowering, fascinating, attractive" is 1630s, from the verb in a figurative sense "overwhelm (someone) by strong effect on the mind or senses." Meaning "very powerful in effect, exceedingly severe, so as to (almost) kill one" is from 1844.So there you have it! I will report back on the award announcements, so stay tuned...
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| Now HERE is a woman "dressed to kill." [Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau), by John Singer Sargent (American, Florence 1856–1925 London) (1856 - 1925) – ArtistDetails of artist on Google Art Project - 4QGaPNGLuGOBCw at Google Cultural Institute maximum zoom level, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26126772] |
Hello all! Want a signed, personalized copy of my newest Silver Rush historical mystery? It can be done! Even during pandemic times. Just pl...
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