Grounded!

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dianel
Posts: 3132
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:51 pm
Primary Surname Interests: PERRY, HARROLD, COOKSEY, HINGLEY, WOODHOUSE, MATEER, RIDDELL, RYAN, LEVETT
Primary Geographical Research Areas: BLACK COUNTRY, BELFAST, CO. LIMERICK, LANARKSHIRE
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Grounded!

Post by dianel »

Wikipedia:
"Stir crazy is a phrase that dates to 1908 according to the Oxford English Dictionary[1] and the online Etymology Dictionary. Used among inmates in prison, it referred to a prisoner who became mentally unbalanced because of prolonged incarceration. It is based upon the slang stir (1851) to mean prison. It is now used to refer to anyone who becomes restless from being stuck in one place too long with a similar meaning to cabin fever."

That's good, I've been using it correctly at least.
Some mistakes are too much fun
to only make once.
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snoopysue
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Primary Surname Interests: Fellows Jinks Wearing Jeavons Jensen Barker Skidmore Beardmore Woodall
Primary Geographical Research Areas: Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Denmark
Location: Denmark
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Re: Grounded!

Post by snoopysue »

dianel wrote:1 day to go!
Goin' stir-crazy here. (Where does that expression come from? I've heard it 'n used it for yonks, but never thought about its origin.)

At least it's cold and miserable outside. Think I'll stay in bed all day. Tomorrow I have to wash all my bedclothes, clothes I've been wearing, towels - 3 TIMES! Feeling tired already - I'm definitely staying in bed!


Isn't "Stir" a slang word for prison?
Snoopysue

Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority.
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SRD
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Re: Grounded!

Post by SRD »

http://dictionary.reference.com/ wrote:stir-crazy
1908, from stir "prison" (1851), probably from Start Newgate (1757), prison in London, later any prison (1823), probably from Romany stardo "imprisoned," related to staripen "a prison."
Currently investigating the Hillmans of Sussex.
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