# "Threw him for a loop" -  etymology?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threw-him-for-a-loop-etymology/50762>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 18, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threw-him-for-a-loop-etymology/50762 "2001-01-18T22:11:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jdl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@jdl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdl)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threw-him-for-a-loop-etymology/50762/1 "2001-01-18T22:11:52Z")

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What is the origin of the phrase “I threw him for a loop”? The syntax doesn’t even seem to make sense.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threw-him-for-a-loop-etymology/50762/2 "2001-01-18T23:48:51Z")

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The Word Detective on being [knocked for a loop](http://www.word-detective.com/070698.html#loop).

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**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:** [January 19, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threw-him-for-a-loop-etymology/50762/3 "2001-01-19T01:34:57Z")

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Partridge says it originally come from aerial acrobatics and seems to think the term originates from calf roping, influenced by the phrase “thrown for a loss.”

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threw-him-for-a-loop-etymology/50762/4 "2001-01-19T03:40:01Z")

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So the _Word Detective_ says

> [@](#):
>
> In fact, since “thrown for a loop” first appeared in about 1923, cartoons may actually have boosted the popularity of the idiom.

Let’s look at the actual 1923 quote–from _Lighter_, **Fighting blood** \<You’re always predicting I’m going to get knocked for a loop.\>

The earliest versions of this, in print all say _knocked for a loop, not thrown for a loop_

_Lighter_ cites no printed usage of _thrown_ for a loop until 1965!

_loop_ and _looped_ originally had to do with being drunk(from the 1920’s). This may or may not have any bearing on the derivation.

I will be interested if anyone can give British cites of the term as _thrown_ for a loop in the 20’s.