Hi I am having toruble locating where a certain phrase used a lot in my area derives from. The phase is "To knocks ten barrels of **** out of someone".
I have heard a few slight interpretations of this ie "To knock ten bails out of someone" or " To knock several bells out of someone".
Anyway i was wondering if anyone knew the histroy behind the saying as to wear it originated from and the actual original interpretation of the saying.
Thank you for your time
By the way im from the midlands in England if that helps as im not sure if its a local thing.
Posts: 4 | Location: Derby Uk | Registered: 10-24-06
Just a guess, but an early use could be from boxing - "to knock the stuffing out of someone". The image would be of a stuffed toy (or 'stuffed shirt') becoming limp and floppy. The substitution of various ruder words, and variations on them, would follow naturally.
To knock the (whatever) out of someone or something is a common expression in many English dialects. "To knock" is a very old word, and its equivalents are found throughout the Germanic languages. That which is knocked is usually in large measure to emphasize the severity of the beating, whether it be 10 barrels of something, stuffing. I cannot give you the origin of your saying, perhaps someone across the pond can.
Posts: 7659 | Location: On Vacation | Registered: 06-06-02
hmm yes well thanks for the info its help shed a little light on the matter. I have found a few sights using a lot of the saying but no real direct link.
So maybe your right about its just variations maybe from the stuffing saying. And the info on the knock is quite helpful too thank you.
My quest continues :P
Posts: 4 | Location: Derby Uk | Registered: 10-24-06
KNOCK SEVEN BELLS OUT OF A MAN An old naval expression for the giving of a sound thrashing (the nautical equivalent of "Knocking a man for six"); presumably to knock all eight bells out of a man would be to kill him! If you scare the TEN BELLS out of someone, they are dead and have come back!!! Among other things he learned beche-de-mer English.... If they told a boy they would knock seven bells out of him if he did a certain thing, when he did that thing, seven bells invariably were knocked out of him.. Mauki did not know what seven bells were, but they occurred in beche-de-mer, and he imagined them to be the blood and teeth that sometimes accompanied the process of knocking out seven bells. (Jack London, "Mauki") "What name you, Angara?" he shouted. "What for talk 'long you, eh? I knock seven bells out of you, too much, quick!" (Jack London, "Adventure")
Another site says:
In olden days boxing matches lasted 7 rounds with a bell sounding at the end of each round therefore to knock 7 bells out of someone meant they went the distance.
I also found this:
To Knock Seven Bells out of a Man An old naval expression for the giving of a sound thrashing (the nautical equivalent of "Knocking a man for six"); presumably to knock all eight bells out of a man would be to kill him!
