# In the same vain or vein? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483 "2003-07-01T01:52:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/21 "2010-09-15T16:54:43Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Am I correct that in your neck of the woods, they also say “nekkid”? Eh? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/22 "2010-09-15T19:41:22Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > The original form (and still the correct one, at least here in the UK) is “buck naked”. It seems to have mutated in recent years, in the same way that “off your own bat” is often mangled into “off your own back”. What does this phrase even mean? Did Brits frequently own carrier bats to deliver messages to one another? So taking one person’s idea for your own would be met with the derisive comment, “You clearly didn’t develop that proposal off you your own bat”–meaning “You’ve been intercepting other peoples’ carrier bats and reading the messages!” Brits are weird. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/23 "2010-09-15T19:46:35Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > > [@Colophon](#): > > > > The original form (and still the correct one, at least here in the UK) is “buck naked”. It seems to have mutated in recent years, in the same way that “off your own bat” is often mangled into “off your own back”. > > What does this phrase even mean? Did Brits frequently own carrier bats to deliver messages to one another? So taking one person’s idea for your own would be met with the derisive comment, “You clearly didn’t develop that proposal off you your own bat”–meaning “You’ve been intercepting other peoples’ carrier bats and reading the messages!” > > Brits are weird. _Cricket_ bat. But I’m sure you guessed that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Looey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Looey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Looey)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/24 "2010-09-15T19:59:48Z")
I wish I could remember the comedian’s name who described the difference between naked and nekkid. Naked means y’ain’t got no clothes on. Nekkid means y’ain’t got no clothes on… and yer up to somethin’! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/25 "2010-09-15T20:05:43Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > … I’ve never heard “buck naked” before. You’ve got to be kidding. It’s George Costanza’s porn name! ---
**Author:** ![jepflast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@jepflast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jepflast)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/26 "2012-09-16T10:00:33Z")
> [@Looey](#): > > I wish I could remember the comedian’s name who described the difference between naked and nekkid. > > Naked means y’ain’t got no clothes on. Nekkid means y’ain’t got no clothes on… and yer up to somethin’! It was Jeff Foxworthy, and it’s the other way around: _nekkid_ is simple nudity. In other news, “buck naked” is the original and “butt naked” is a later misrendering. Actually I just stopped by to see why this thread had 47,000 views. I still don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/27 "2012-09-16T10:20:12Z")
And this is the second time it’s bee resurrected. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/28 "2012-09-16T12:40:18Z")
> [@Looey](#): > > I wish I could remember the comedian’s name who described the difference between naked and nekkid. > > Naked means y’ain’t got no clothes on. Nekkid means y’ain’t got no clothes on… and yer up to somethin’! > [@jepflast](#): > > It was Jeff Foxworthy, and it’s the other way around: _nekkid_ is simple nudity. > > In other news, “buck naked” is the original and “butt naked” is a later misrendering. > > Actually I just stopped by to see why this thread had 47,000 views. I still don’t know. [Lewis Grizzard](http://allfunnyquotations.com/html/lewis_grizzard.html) , actually. **Looey** had it the right way 'round. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/29 "2012-09-16T13:59:08Z")
double zombie or no nekkid is in the same vein as naked. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/30 "2012-09-16T14:11:27Z")
> [@Ringo](#): > > And I’ll note that a google search on both phrases turns up quite a few “vain” usages, none of which make much sense. I suppose, _maybe_, if you were comparing a couple of prima donnas… Or, as one of my employees wrote, a pre madonna. I guess that would have been Cher. Goddamn it, suckered into the same zombie thread…again! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/31 "2012-09-16T14:19:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ah crap, I’m talking to a zombie. > [@Chefguy](#): > > Goddamn it, suckered into the same zombie thread…again! are both in the same vein. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/32 "2012-09-16T16:26:43Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > are both in the same vein. AAAUUUUUGGHHHH!! ::falls on floor in a Belushi fit:: ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/33 "2012-09-16T17:48:22Z")
“Humor in a jugular vein” — Mad ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/34 "2012-09-16T18:29:29Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > “Humor in a jugular vein” — Mad man that brings back memories ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/35 "2012-09-16T19:45:47Z")
I never saw this coming down the pipe. ---
**Author:** ![Bilbo\_Baggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bilbo\_Baggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bilbo_Baggins)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/36 "2013-10-04T20:18:32Z")
Dr. Paprika wins! (See his post in 2003). The actual first use in literature of “in the same vein” is indeed an American mining expression. To wit, in underground rock layers gold is found running in veins. So is silver. Sometimes there will be a slight admixture. Thus, the miner’s query, “Is it gold?” answered by, “I don’t know, but it is running in the same vein.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/37 "2013-10-04T20:57:41Z")
Triple zombie! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/38 "2013-10-04T23:04:16Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Triple zombie! I’m afraid, Sir, that your exclaimed protest is in vain. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/39 "2013-10-05T07:10:16Z")
> [@Bilbo\_Baggins](#): > > Dr. Paprika wins! (See his post in 2003). > > The actual first use in literature of “in the same vein” is indeed an American mining expression. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2013, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483/40 "2013-10-05T09:14:54Z")
Veinnnnnns! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-same-vain-or-vein/185483.md?page=3)