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"Sayings from ACW Era we still use today" Topic


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Comments or corrections?

Personal logo Legion 4 Supporting Member of TMP14 Mar 2025 9:14 a.m. PST

We probably know most if not all of these … But many today use them and have no idea what they are or where they came from.


link

DeRuyter14 Mar 2025 9:46 a.m. PST

Interesting. Some of these phrases originated before the ACW. For example, Jonah was used in the navy well before that time.

John the OFM14 Mar 2025 9:51 a.m. PST

How about "Don't go off half-cocked!"

I Deal In Lead Mister14 Mar 2025 10:09 a.m. PST

"You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."…

Personal logo ColCampbell Supporting Member of TMP14 Mar 2025 11:39 a.m. PST

I think the "half-cocked" phrase probably originated earlier than the ACW. Weren't earlier muskets equipped with a half-cock setting?

Jim

Shagnasty Supporting Member of TMP14 Mar 2025 1:31 p.m. PST

I think several of these predated The Late Unpleasantness Between The States.

Personal logo 20thmaine Supporting Member of TMP14 Mar 2025 1:53 p.m. PST

They missed a few….

…"argh, argh, I've been hit argh, argh it hurts so much, argh"

Personal logo Dal Gavan Supporting Member of TMP14 Mar 2025 2:25 p.m. PST

I think the "half-cocked" phrase probably originated earlier than the ACW. Weren't earlier muskets equipped with a half-cock setting?

They were, at least as early as the WAS. It's supposed to lock the mechanism, acting like a safety during loading, and is one of the things I check when I get mine out for firing. If a weapon could be fired, or did fire when at half-cock (eg when the butt was put on the ground for loading) then it was dangerously faulty.

d88mm194015 Mar 2025 10:34 a.m. PST

"Where's the beef?"
Grant, trying a little humor on Lee as he greats him at Appomattox Courthouse…

Fat Wally16 Mar 2025 8:12 a.m. PST

'They couldn't hit an Elephant'

42flanker16 Mar 2025 2:05 p.m. PST

Ironclad: The first ironclad battleship was French: La Gloire,launched in November 1859.

Skedaddle: Perhaps alteration British dialect scaddle to run off in a fright, from scaddle, adjective, wild, timid, skittish First use 1859 (Merriam Webster)

Upper hand: First known use- C15th (Merriam Webster)

Bite the bullet: A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd edition – London, 1788):
Red handed: First known use- 1819 (Merriam Webster)

"Hold the fort", "Jonah", "Fit to be tied", "Horse sense"-
questionable

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