Ancient Romans Coined Modern Slang Term
An amusing and erudite correspondence in the columns of the Manchester Guardian has established the fact that the wartime slang expression “He’s had it,” dates back to the Roman comic poet and comedy writer Titus Plautus (254 to 184 8.C.) He used it in the form “Hoc habet” in two of his plays. Contributors to the correspondence pointed out that the expression also occurs in Virgil’s Aeneid and in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where the wounded Mercutio exclaims: “I have had it, and soundly too.” •
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 20, 10 February 1948, Page 2
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91Ancient Romans Coined Modern Slang Term Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 20, 10 February 1948, Page 2
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