Saturday, 2 January 2016

Hat Metaphors and Similes

I gather those. Additions to this list are welcome. Too, note that in some instances I do not know the origin of a specific expression. If you have understanding or theories of origin for something beneath, I'd as well love to hear from you. I hope you get pleasure from those.

Speaking By means of Your Hat

To speak nonsense or to lie. c1885. [In an interview in The Planet entitled "How About White Shirts", a reporter asked a New York streetcar conductor what he believed about efforts to get the conductors to put on white shirts appreciate their counterparts in Chicago. "Dey're talkin' tru deir hats" he was quoted as replying.]

Consuming Your Hat

There is no such thing as a sure thing, but that is exactly where this expression comes from. If you inform a person you are going to eat your hat if they do anything, make sure you happen to be not wearing your ideal hat-basically in case. [The expression goes back at least to the reign of Charles II of Wonderful Britain and had anything to do with the amorous proclivities of 'ol Charlie. Apparently they known as a goat soon after him that had his exact same take pleasure in of life which integrated, in the goat's case, Consuming hats.]

Old Hat

Old, dull stuff; out of style. [This appears to come from the reality that hat fashions are continuously altering. The truth of the matter is that hat fashions had not been altering extremely quick at all till the turn of the 19th Century. The expression consequently is most likely about one hundred years old.]

Mad As A Hatter

Completely demented, crazy. [Hatters did, certainly, go mad. They inhaled fumes from the mercury that was part of the method of producing felt hats. Not recognizing the violent twitching and derangement as symptoms of a brain disorder, men and women produced entertaining of impacted hat-makers, typically treating them as drunkards. In the U.S., the situation was referred to as the "Danbury shakes." (Danbury, Connecticut, was a hat-creating center.) Mercury is no longer utilised in the felting method: hat-creating -- and hat-makers -- are secure.]

Hat In Hand

A demonstration of humility. For instance, "I come hat in hand" implies that I come in deference or in weakness. [I assume that the origins are from feudal occasions though serfs or any reduced members of feudal society had been needed to take off their hats in the presence of the lord or monarch (keep in mind the Dr. Seuss book "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins"?). A hat is your most prideful adornment.]

Pass The Hat

Actually to pass a man's hat amongst members of an audience or Team as a implies for collecting cash. As well to beg or ask for charity. [The origin is self-evident as a man's hat turned upside down tends to make a fine container.]

Tight As Dick's Hat Band

Something that's as well tight. [The Dick in this case is Richard Cromwell, the son of England's 17th Century "dictator", Oliver Cromwell. Richard succeeded his dad and wanted to be king but was fast disposed. The hatband in the phrase refers to the crown he don't got to put on.]

Hat Trick

3 consecutive successes in a game or an additional endeavor. For instance, taking 3 wickets with 3 successive pitches by a bowler in a game of cricket, 3 objectives or factors won by a player in a game of soccer or ice hockey, etc. [From cricket, from the former practice of awarding a hat to a bowler who dismissed 3 batsmen with 3 successive balls.]

Hard Hats

In the 19th Century, men who wore derby hats especially Eastern businessmen and later crooks, gamblers and detectives. [Derby hats, a.k.a. Bowlers or Cokes, had been 1st pretty hard as they had been created in 1850 for use by a game warden, horseback rider wanting protection.] Nowadays, "Hard Hats" are building workers [for clear causes].

In 1's Hat, or In Hat

An expression of incredulity. [Origin unknown. Support us if you can]

Throwing A Hat In the Ring

Getting into a contest or a race e.g. a political run for workplace. [A client wrote us with the soon after: "I study in "The Language of American Politics" by William F. Buckley Jr. that the phrase "throw 1's hat in the ring" comes from a practice of 19th Century saloonkeepers placing a boxing ring in the middle of the barroom so that buyers who wanted to fight each and every other would have a place to do so with no beginning a donnybrook. If a man wanted to indicate that he would fight anyone, he would throw his hat in the ring.
At a single point, Theodore Roosevelt declared he was operating for workplace with a speech that incorporated a line that went anything love, "My hat is in the ring and I am stripped to the waist". The phrase "my hat in the ring" stuck, likely for the reason that "I am stripped to the waist" is a tiny gross.]

Hats Off . . .

"Hats off to the U.S. Winter Olympic Group" for instance. An exclamation of approval or kudos. [Origins will have to be from the reality that taking one particular's hat off or tipping 1's hat is a regular demonstration of respect.]

A Feather In Your Cap

A special achievement. [I assume that the origins on this expression hail from the days although, in reality, a feather for 1's cap would be awarded for an accomplishment a great deal adore a medal is awarded Now and pinned to one particular's uniform. A feather, or a pin, add a particular prestige or luster to a single's apparel.]

Hold On To Your Hat(s)

A warning that some excitement or danger is imminent. [Though riding horseback or in an open-air early vehicle, the exclamation "hold on to your hat" while the horse broke into a gallop or the car took-off was indeed literal.]

Bee In Your Bonnet

An indication of agitation or an idea that you cannot let go of and basically should express. [A real bee in one particular's bonnet indeed precipitates expression.]

Wearing A lot of Hats

This of course is a metaphor for possessing A lot of diverse duties or jobs. [Historically, hats have usually been an integral, even required, part of a operating uniform. A miner, welder, building worker, undertaker, white-collar worker or banker just before the 1960s, chef, farmer, etc. all put on, or wore, a specific hat. Wearing "Quite a few hats" or "Quite a few diverse hats" basically implies that a single has unique duties or jobs.]

All Hat and No Cattle

All show and no substance. For instance, in October 2003, Senator Robert Byrd declared that the Bush administration's declarations that it wanted the United Nations as a companion in transforming Iraq had been "All Hat and No Cattle". [This Texas expression refers to men who dress the part of highly effective cattlemen, but do not have the herds back dwelling.]

To Hang Your Hat (or not)

To commit to anything (or not), or stake your reputation on anything (or not), love an idea or policy. For instance "I would not hang my hat on George Steinbrenner's selection to fire his manager." [Origin unknown. Can anybody Assistance with this one particular?]

At the Drop of a Hat

Speedy. [Dropping a hat, can be a way in which a race can start off (as an alternative of a beginning gun for instance). Too, a hat is an apparel item that can simply turn into dislodged from its wearer. Anybody who wears hats constantly has knowledgeable the quickness by which a hat can fly off your head.]

To Tip Your Hat or A Tip of the Hat

An endorsement of respect, approval, appreciation, or the love. Instance: "A tip of the hat to American troops for the capture of Saddam Hussein." [This is basically verbalizing an instance of hat etiquette. Men would (and some nonetheless do) tip their hat to convey the similar message.]

My Hat Rather of Myself

This is an expression from Ecuador, dwelling of the "Panama" hat. It indicates What's says; it is preferable to give up your hat than your life. [The Guayas River runs By means of Guayaquil, Ecuador's biggest city on the Pacific coast. Folks from the city had been identified to hunt alligators for their hides in the river by swimming stark naked wearing Panama hats on their heads and long knives involving their teeth. While the reptiles open their jaws and go for the swimmer, he dives leaving his hat floating on the surface for the alligator to chew on though he plunges the knife into the animal's vitals. From THE PANAMA HAT TRAIL by Tom Miller.]

Terrible Hat

I believe this is a French expression for a Undesirable particular person. [Ludwig Bemelmans' MADELINE series of children's books, set in France, incorporates a single MADELINE AND THE Terrible HAT. In this story Madeline, our heroine, refers to a small boy neighbor as a "Poor hat". She clearly implies this as a metaphor for a Poor particular person and since I never know the expression in English, I assume this is a widespread French reference. If anybody out there knows far more about this, please drop us an e-mail.]

Hat by Hat

Step by step. [Nevada Barr's book Searching for ENLIGHTENMENT: Hat by Hat suggests basically that. Has anybody heard this expression otherwise? If yes, please e mail us.]

Maintaining Anything Under One particular's Hat

Maintaining a secret. [Folks kept required papers and little treasures under their hats. A single's hat was usually the initially thing wear in the morning and the final thing taken off at evening, so Actually Maintaining points under 1's hat was secure Maintaining. A popular practitioner of this was Abraham Lincoln. The extremely utilitarian cowboy hat was as well usually employed for storage.]

Here's Your Hat, But What is Your Hurry

Though a person has taken up sufficient of your time and you want him/her to leave. [Origin unknown.]

Carry His Workplace in His Hat

Running a business on a shoestring. [Required papers and the appreciate have been usually carried in 1's hat.]

Sets Her Cap

A young lady "sets her cap" for a young man who she hopes to interest in marrying her. [Long ago, maidens wore caps indoors since properties had been poorly heated. A girl set her most becoming hat on her head whilst an eligible fellow came to call.]

Considering Cap

To wear your "Pondering cap" is to give some dilemma cautious believed. [Teachers and philosophers in the Middle Ages frequently wore distinct caps that set them apart from these who had less understanding. Caps became regarded as a symbol of education. Folks place them on (Actually or figuratively) to resolve their own issues.]

Black Hat . . .

Black hat techniques, black hat intentions, etc. refer to nefarious actions or styles. [Black hats in Western lore and literature have been the Terrible males.]

White Hat . . .

Though I never see or hear this expression as significantly as "Black Hat", it merely is the opposite of the above. [Excellent males wore/put on white hats.]

Fred Belinsky is the founder and president of The Village Hat Store. The four-shop California chain is 28 years old. http://www.VillageHatShop.com, launched in early 1997, was the very first on the internet hat seller. Belinsky too runs [http://www.Berets.com] Private label brands incorporate Jaxon Hats, JaxonHats.com, and sur la tete. Extra of Belinsky's articles can be noticed at his HAT Weblog. VillageHatShop.com as well publishes THE COWBOY HAT, an ezine featuring quick fiction, essays, and poetry about the American West and the Mexican-American Border.

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