# Phrases which have lost their meaning

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 8, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413 "2012-12-08T15:19:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413/21 "2012-12-09T07:55:15Z")

</div>

> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#):
>
> “Went over it with a fine tooth comb.” You can’t even buy a tooth comb anymore- all they sell is brushes.

Really? I’ve seen combs for sale in chemists and supermarkets and places like that recently.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413/22 "2012-12-09T12:38:49Z")

</div>

“begs the question” is now used to mean “raises the question”.

The original meaning of the expression is a bit more complex.

Also “literally” has a long history of not meaning what it is supposed to mean.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413/23 "2012-12-09T14:20:48Z")

</div>

> [@NoClueBoy](#):
>
> Queer as a two dollar bill.
> 
> (or three dollar)
> 
> For one, they printed a $2 bill.

Since 1862, actually. There was a ten-year hiatus in the 70s but the bill still circulated during that time. The phrase was always “three-dollar bill,” since $2 bills were always available.

I’ll go with the phrase “vaccinated with a phonograph needle.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413/24 "2012-12-09T14:34:58Z")

</div>

> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Since 1862, actually. There was a ten-year hiatus in the 70s but the bill still circulated during that time. The phrase was always “three-dollar bill,” since $2 bills were always available.
> 
> I’ll go with the phrase “vaccinated with a phonograph needle.”

FWIW: The English equivalent is “queer (or bent) as a nine-bob note”. A “bob” being slang for a shilling. The phrase can be used to mean “odd” or “counterfeit” but is more likely used to mean the subject is homosexual.

So be careful using that one over here. Although to be honest people are less likely to think you are making a homosexual slur, and more likely to think you’ve stepped out of a 1950s movie.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413/25 "2012-12-09T16:38:46Z")

</div>

I’m just saying.

Draw the curtains? That could mean either opening or closing them.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-which-have-lost-their-meaning/643413.md?page=1)