
|
WITHIN A GNAT’S ... [Q] From Doug Dew: A friend of mine uses a colourful phrase: within a gnat’s ..., meaning very close-fitting. Any ideas on the origin of this term? [A] Various phrases of the type have been known in the US for at least 160 years to indicate something very small. The first example I found is cited by John Lighter in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang from 1840: gnat’s heel, a very small amount. Others are gnat’s eyebrow, gnat’s ass (“Fine enough to split the hairs on a gnat’s ass”), and fit to a gnat’s heel, for something that fits or suits perfectly. There’s also the English gnat’s piss for any weak and unsatisfying drink. Others exist, some even more crude. |
Page created 9 Dec. 2000
E-Magazine
Try the weekly World Wide Words e-magazine — it features words in the news, weird words, new(ish) words, old words, words people ask questions about, and even the occasional grovelling correction.
Notes and comments
Michael Quinion's new book is now out!
World Wide Words is supported by its readers: take a look here to see how you can help.
Can't tell your sinistro- from your dextro-? Help is at hand! Consult my dictionary of word beginnings and endings.
Try a page at random
|