# Skyrockets **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972 "2006-10-02T14:41:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/1 "2006-10-02T14:41:45Z")
Why do prices skyrocket but there are no literal skyrockets? Was there ever a time when a rocket was called a skyrocket? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/2 "2006-10-02T14:52:36Z")
It is a term for fireworks. > [@](#): > > A firework that ascends high into the air where it explodes in a brilliant cascade of flares and starlike sparks. > intr. & tr.v. sky·rock·et·ed, sky·rock·et·ing, sky·rock·ets > To rise or cause to rise rapidly and suddenly: Wheat prices skyrocketed. Discovery of oil here has skyrocketed land values. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/3 "2006-10-02T18:11:13Z")
[QUOTE=adam yax] It is a term for fireworks. [/QUOTE] Well, yeah, but when’s the last time you heard anyone use it? Was this ever the predominant term? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/4 "2006-10-02T18:19:13Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] Well, yeah, but when’s the last time you heard anyone use it? Was this ever the predominant term? [/QUOTE] Back in the 70s. The Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight Lyrics > [@](#): > > And you know the night is always gonna be there any way. > \*\*Sky rockets \*\* in flight. > Afternoon delight. > Afternoon delight. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/5 "2006-10-02T18:19:18Z")
“Sky rockets in flight, Afternoon delight!” ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/6 "2006-10-02T18:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] “Sky rockets in flight, Afternoon delight!” [/QUOTE] We just had the “Wimpiest simulpost ever”. 😃 Jim ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/7 "2006-10-02T19:56:11Z")
[Online Etymology Dictionary](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=skyrocket&searchmode=none) skyrocket (n.) 1688, from sky + rocket. The verb, in the fig. sense of “to rise abruptly and rapidly,” is attested from 1895. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skyrockets/374972/8 "2006-10-02T20:29:52Z")
[QUOTE=CookingWithGas] Well, yeah, but when’s the last time you heard anyone use it? Was this ever the predominant term? [/QUOTE] So? Do you think we automatically drop a word from the language just because its origin becomes obsolete?