THE HISTORY OF SOME POPULAR PHRASES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 11, Issue 10, 11 March 1909, Page 397

THE HISTORY OF SOME POPULAR PHRASES

Although in some cases several versions 'have been given of the origin of popular sayings, there are- quite a number which can be traced to one authentic source, and the history of these is sometimes of rather a humorous character. • . . ' My eye and Betty Martin.' The origin of this phrase has been told by Dr. Butler, who was head master of Shrewsbury School, and afterwards Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. . . .. It appears that many years ago a party of gipsies were apprehended and taken before a magistrate. The constable gave evidence against a very extraordinary woman, named Betty Martin. She became violently excited, rushed up to him, and gave him a tremendous blow in the eye. After which the boys and rabble used to follow the unfortunate officer with cries of ' My eye and Betty Martin.' . . , ' Mind your P's and Q's.' This expression arose from the anoient custom of hanging a slate behind the ale-house

door, on which was written 'P ' and 'Q ' (pints or quarts) against the name of each customer according to the quantity which he drank, and which was not expected to be paid for till Saturday evening, when he received his wages. While in the opinion of one authority the phrase ' Before I could say Jack Robinson ' originated from a very volatile gentleman of that appellation, who .. would call on his neighbors and -be gone before his name could be announced, it is generally considered that Brinsley Sheridan, the famous dramatist and orator, gave rise to the saying. On one occasion Sheridan was attacking a politician named Jack Robinson, who was a great favorite of George 111. When denouncing bribery and its instigators, Sheridan, in reply to the cries of ' Name ! ' pointed to Robinson on the Treasury .Bench, exclaiming at the same time, ' Yes, I oould name him as soon as I could say "Jack Robinson." '