Be Still and Know...Then and Now

Over the last few days as I have browsed and read the many wonderful blogs I visit from time to time a phrase popped out at me not once but twice .   One fell Swoop, what does it really mean. Where did it originate? Isn’t the internet great, within in a few moments I had my answer. Here is what I found out.   http://www.wisegeek.com/where-did-the-phrase-one-fell-swoop-come-from.htm   People have been using the phrase “at one   fell   swoop” in English since the 1600s, and like many idioms, many people are entirely unaware of its origins. This phrase is generally used to mean “all at once,” in a very rapid and final sense, although one could be forgiven for wondering what falling and swooping have to do with something happening suddenly and perhaps violently. Unlike many idioms, which seem to have appeared in the English language with no apparent origins, we actually do know where “one   fell   swoop comes from.” To understand the origins of this phrase, we are going to n...

I'm a bit of a word junkie. I love finding  out where expressions come from and their origins. As I was working on yesterday post I began to wonder about the expression " dyed in the wool "  Here is what I found: The expression " dyed in the wool " refers to a state of steadfastness, especially with respect to one's  political ,  religious  or social beliefs. The expression comes from the fact that  fabric  can be  dyed  in a number of ways. The  woven  fabric may be dyed after it is complete, or the threads may be dyed before they are woven. When a color is "dyed in the wool," the wool itself is dyed before being spun into  threads , so the colour is least likely to fade or change. Dyed in the wool first appeared in the 16 th century as a metaphorical expression. Blessings Robin