...and other antiquated phrases. :D)
It occurred to me to look up a couple of somewhat antiquated terms this evening (actually, one was a request), and so I felt I might as well share. So:
the vapours (as in, an attack of the vapours): not a case of anxiety, as I had thought, but in fact a state of depression, usually brought on by a shock.
Great Scott!: An expression of surprise, amazement or outrage. Its origin is uncertain, but etymologists (that's word-people, not bug-people) are fairly certain it comes from the US around the 1860s, and most likely refers to General Winfield-Scott, a hero of the Mexican-American War and the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Army when the Civil War broke out.
(Oh... and if you want to know the origin of "oh my stars and garters," go look it up yourself.)
Posted by gris at July 25, 2004 09:42 PM