Curious Capstrat–Etymology
We arrive from diverse backgrounds, but here we share a passion for winning and a natural curiosity about the world around us. Welcome to “Curious Capstrat” – a blog series of interesting, maybe quirky themed questions.
The first topic is Etymology. What are the origins of these phrases?
"Honeymoon"
“Mind your Ps and Qs”
“Drinking the Kool-Aid”
No cheating! Give us your best, unaided guess even if you have no idea.
Comments
Oh man, I love this game! It's like Balderdash - I'll leave it up to you, the reader, to determine just how full of crap I am.
1) Honeymoon - This term originates from a reference to the harvest moon, or the most fruitful time of the year, in early fall, when crops were brought to market and the prosperity of the year determined. To the newly-married, early conception was encouraged, ensuring more help with the crops, and therefore, greater prosperity of the family.
2) Mind your Ps and Qs - This phrase originally referenced a widely-accepted benchmark of standard, known as Prime Quality. Goods and services of all persuasion were measured by and held to this gold standard.
3) Drinking the Kool-Aid - An easy one. Tom Wolfe's cultural anthology "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" gave birth to this phrase. Used to describe any idea or perspective that is perceived to be so radical or enlightened that it must surely be born out of a chemically-induced state of clarity. Alternatively, a metaphorically-dismissive wave of the hand at a person whose thoughts or actions are beyond rational explanation. For a modern equivalent, see 'smoking crack'.
For 1, I'm going with Will's; that sounds reasonable. I call BS on 2 and 3, however.
For 2, I thought this was a reference to typesetters, who commonly mised up these letters in their type cases.
For 3, I thought this was a reference to the Jonestown massacre, where people offed themselves drinking poisoned Kool Aid (actually, a generic substitute).
I've got a good one: What is the etymology of the term "cliche"? Hint: it's similar to 3.
As smart as you are Will, you're off base on all three.
Close on number 1. Really cold on 2 and 3.
Take another guess.
Now you know I did my research, TC. Having just returned from my extreme vacation in Reno, I satisfied an urge to bluff; I may have taken certain...liberties...with certain...etymologies...
Dang! As usual your big brain outsmarted me. Kids, let that be a lesson. No cheating on Curious Capstrat.
"Drinking the Kool-Aid"
One word: Jonestown
Drinking the Kool-aid – refers to the folks at Jonestown who drank the poisoned Kool-aid given to them by Jim Jones, their cult leader. It means buying into a concept basically without question. Mind your p’s and q’s means mind your pints and quarts – refers literally to how much ale you drink….don’t get out of control. Figuratively it means watch your step. This one was originally directed at Paul Smith.
A honeymoon was originally the month-long (=moon-long) celebration that followed a wedding, during which the couple indulged in drinking mead, a fermented honey beverage.
Drinking the Kool-Aid is a reference to the 1979 Jonestown deaths in Guyana in which members of Jim Jones's cult committed mass suicide via poisoned Kool-Aid rather than face reprisals for the recent killings of an American delegation that included a member of Congress.
I don;t know about honeymoon or Ps and Qs and resisted the urge to cheat and look them up. Drinking the Koolaid (grape - I believe) is a reference to the mass suicide of the cult in Guyana.
Re: Drinking the Kool-aid...Do you know why they don't tell any more Jim Jones jokes? The punch line's too long. Get it?
Honeymoon -- originally, "Honey, moon." It was intended as a command from a newly wed husband to his bride to show her bum. In so doing, the redness of her bum cheeks indicated that the marriage had been consummated, and the royal families could trust one another in combining fortunes and pursuing business.
Ps and Qs --- Command from typing instructor to pupils
Drink the Kool Aid -- Ohhh Yeahhhhh! This was a command by Jim Jones. Little known to most, Jim Jones was not as heartless as most thought. He orignally hired the Kool Aid man to come crashing through his compound wall as a treat for his followers just prior to committing Harry Caray (see video.google.com. However, one of his guards mistook the Kool Aid man for a congressman, and shot him before he could entertain the crowd.
Honeymoon = sweet evening!
Mind P's and Q's = in the olden times P's and Q's were scripted similarly, and minding them was a euphemism for paying attention.
Drinking the Kool-Aid= actually predates Jonestown. It was a military phrase coined by a Marine corporal in reference to drinking ones own blood instead of letting it drip giving away a soldier's tracks to predators in the jungle.
I don't know if someone has already said this because I didn't look at the other answers. Honeymoon comes from the old tradition that for a month after the wedding, the newlyweds were released from social responsibilities. For one cycle of the moon, hence coining the term "honeymoon." (this may be totally wrong but it sounds good).
One more. "Drinking the Kool-aid." At first I thought about Tom Wolfe's book but I think it comes from the Jim Jones cult and the cyanide laced Kool-aid. Those are my best two guesses.
Ps and Qs. This is what I was told in England---hope I've gotten it right.
It stands for mind your pints and quarts or when partying in a pub like a good cooky brit does, make sure you don't drink too many Old Speckled Hens or Strongbows.
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