Why do we 'rob Peter' to 'pay Paul'? | | Poor Peter — what does he have to do with paying off debts to Paul? This idiom has roots that can be traced back to Middle English writings. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | T heft is usually frowned upon, but linguists will tell you that much of the English language was stolen — or borrowed — from other languages. And a student of the idioms and aphorisms that contribute to the charm of English will recognize the classic proverb "rob Peter to pay Paul." We've already explored who Roger ("Roger that") and Pete ("for Pete's sake") are in previous editions, and now it's time to get to know Peter and Paul.
The usage of this idiom is pretty straightforward: It means to take something away from one person (Peter) in order to pay another (Paul), leaving the first person at a disadvantage. In another usage, it might mean to pay off one debt by taking on another. But why are the names of Peter and Paul used, rather than Wendy and Wanda, Michael and Thomas, Laverne and Shirley, or any other pleasing pairing of names? |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Clinking Beer Mugs | | | Meaning: Indicates "Cheers!" with two beer mugs clinking together.
Evolution: Emoji decision-makers must be beer drinkers, because 🍻was included in the first release, but 🥂wasn't included until Emoji 3.0.
Usage: [Text to the group chat:] Who's in for some darts tonight? First round on me! 🍻 |
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| | Clinking Beer Mugs | | | Meaning: Indicates "Cheers!" with two beer mugs clinking together.
Evolution: Emoji decision-makers must be beer drinkers, because 🍻was included in the first release, but 🥂wasn't included until Emoji 3.0.
Usage: [Text to the group chat:] Who's in for some darts tonight? First round on me! 🍻 |
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Have you read? | |  | | Ain't Nobody's Fool | | | | Before Dolly Parton became a household name, she grew up on a mountaintop in Tennessee alongside 11 siblings. She has written thousands of songs, starred in classic movies such as "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias," created a theme park, and launched a number of philanthropic endeavors. It took more than a cup of ambition to make it so far, and "Ain't Nobody's Fool" offers an unparalleled deep dive into Dolly's story, based on new interviews and including never-before-seen photographs from her extraordinary life. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | Ain't Nobody's Fool | | | | Before Dolly Parton became a household name, she grew up on a mountaintop in Tennessee alongside 11 siblings. She has written thousands of songs, starred in classic movies such as "9 to 5" and "Steel Magnolias," created a theme park, and launched a number of philanthropic endeavors. It took more than a cup of ambition to make it so far, and "Ain't Nobody's Fool" offers an unparalleled deep dive into Dolly's story, based on new interviews and including never-before-seen photographs from her extraordinary life. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | Is 'Off Of' Redundant? | | Let's unravel the truth behind "off of," a common phrase with a bad rap, and explore why everyone — dictionaries and singers alike — can't help but use it. |
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