I had a lovely weekend, but I have no time to tell you about it. I have something that needs to be handed in today - a day late.
I'm an idiot! I hate it when I don't get things in on time... other people are counting on it! I'm so mad at myself.
I'll tell you about the weekend tomorrow. 'Till then, here's today's Forgotten English word/phrase:
Inkhorn Terms:
Pedantic expressions which "smell of the lamp."
- Ebenezer Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 1898
Can anyone tell me what "smell of the lamp" might mean?
Must dash. Have a great day!
2 comments:
I love google....
http://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/brewers/smells-lamp.html
and
http://bogwitch64.livejournal.com/271496.html
I'm sure I'm wrong, but it almost sounds like a bit of a slur against poets getting high on lamp fumes and creating flowing phrases stuffed full of unnecessary words...
But finally, a wiki that helps make the whole thing make sense:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkhorn_term
Oh, and apparently, Happy St. John Bosco's Day!
Brilliant! Thanks!
Oh yes! St. John Bosco, the patron saint of editors. Lord knows they need some looking after!
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