Learning about Phrases, Idioms, and Slang terms

Are you curious about the origins of common phrases and idioms in English?

Teaching English as a Second Language has definitely made me far more aware of idioms and the strange meanings of terms that Americans often use. Idioms, slang, and phrases remain common obstacles for English language learners, especially adult students who hear these expressions at work.

A few months ago, I started subscribing to a British newsletter called “A Phrase a Week” that looks at a group of related terms and phrases, their history, and changing meaning over time.

I like it. You might too.

Check out their website at www.phrases.org.uk/a-phrase-a-week/add.html)

Here is their latest email on the term “upside-down” - minus their excellent illustrations:

Upside down' is one of a longish list of English expressions that refer to things being inverted or in disorder - head over heels, '**** over tea-kettle' etc. The mediaeval English also had the terms 'overset', 'overtumble' and 'topset downe', which have now gone out of use. This profusion of similar phrases suggests a widespread interest in the recounting of stories of people falling over - matched today by the popularity of home video television shows.

The interest is common in other languages too; the French even have a specialist term for a sequence of stamps in which some are printed upside down - 'Upside down' was originally 'up so down', i.e. 'up as if down'. The 'so' part migrated into various forms, 'upsa', 'upse' (which spawned 'upset') etc., in the same way as upset the applecart. The change from 'up so down' to forms like 'upset-down' and eventually 'upside-down' appear to be for no better reason than to make the expression's meaning more intuitive.

'Upside down' doesn't sound especially old but, in its early forms, it can claim to be one of the oldest expressions in English. It joins the handful of phrases that can be dated from the first part of the 14th century or before, for example, haven't slept a wink" and "in the twinkling of an eye" The earliest version of 'upside down' known in print is in The proces of the seuyn. The precise publication date of that text isn't known, but it is accepted as being before 1340: The cradel and the child thai found Up so doun upon the ground."

The Phrase A Week newsletter goes out to 71,500 subscribers. As one of their loyal subscribers, I urge you to consider reading this informative, enjoyable newsletter.

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