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Right as ninepence
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Peter Percival
Jun 23, 2016, 7:31:58 AM6/23/16
to
From time to time I might describe myself as "as right as ninepence",
meaning being in good health. I had never given any thought to the
origin of the phrase until yesterday when I heard "as right as nine
pins" used with obviously the same meaning. (See footnote.) That alarmed
me rather. I thought that the idiom was really "as right as nine pins"
and I had misheard it WIWAL and had been saying the wrong thing ever
since. (Imagine my embarrassment, etc.)
Turning to Partridge's /A dictionary of slang and unconventional
English/, I found "as right as ninepence" but not "as right as nine
pins". So that's alright.
Now to my questions. *Why* "as right as ninepence"? Partridge seems fond
of inventing derivations, but there is none in this case. Also, is "as
right as nine pins" at all common?
Footnote: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lmqts. Warning, this
isn't modern sophisticated humour in which comedians lecture their
audience and rant. It is only funny if by "funny" one means "wantonly
silly".
--
A high and rising proportion of children are being born to mothers
least fitted to bring children into the world.... Some are of low
intelligence, most of low educational attainment. They are unlikely
to be able to give children the stable emotional background, the
consistent combination of love and firmness.... They are producing
problem children.... The balance of our human stock, is threatened...
Sir Keith Joseph
meaning being in good health. I had never given any thought to the
origin of the phrase until yesterday when I heard "as right as nine
pins" used with obviously the same meaning. (See footnote.) That alarmed
me rather. I thought that the idiom was really "as right as nine pins"
and I had misheard it WIWAL and had been saying the wrong thing ever
since. (Imagine my embarrassment, etc.)
Turning to Partridge's /A dictionary of slang and unconventional
English/, I found "as right as ninepence" but not "as right as nine
pins". So that's alright.
Now to my questions. *Why* "as right as ninepence"? Partridge seems fond
of inventing derivations, but there is none in this case. Also, is "as
right as nine pins" at all common?
Footnote: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lmqts. Warning, this
isn't modern sophisticated humour in which comedians lecture their
audience and rant. It is only funny if by "funny" one means "wantonly
silly".
--
A high and rising proportion of children are being born to mothers
least fitted to bring children into the world.... Some are of low
intelligence, most of low educational attainment. They are unlikely
to be able to give children the stable emotional background, the
consistent combination of love and firmness.... They are producing
problem children.... The balance of our human stock, is threatened...
Sir Keith Joseph
Janet
Jun 23, 2016, 8:06:52 AM6/23/16
to
In article <nkghbc$usd$1...@news.albasani.net>, peterxp...@hotmail.com
says...
Janet
says...
>
> From time to time I might describe myself as "as right as ninepence",
> meaning being in good health. I had never given any thought to the
> origin of the phrase until yesterday when I heard "as right as nine
> pins" used with obviously the same meaning. (See footnote.) That alarmed
> me rather. I thought that the idiom was really "as right as nine pins"
> and I had misheard it WIWAL and had been saying the wrong thing ever
> since. (Imagine my embarrassment, etc.)
>
> Turning to Partridge's /A dictionary of slang and unconventional
> English/, I found "as right as ninepence" but not "as right as nine
> pins". So that's alright.
>
> Now to my questions. *Why* "as right as ninepence"?
Bob's your uncle, ask him.
> From time to time I might describe myself as "as right as ninepence",
> meaning being in good health. I had never given any thought to the
> origin of the phrase until yesterday when I heard "as right as nine
> pins" used with obviously the same meaning. (See footnote.) That alarmed
> me rather. I thought that the idiom was really "as right as nine pins"
> and I had misheard it WIWAL and had been saying the wrong thing ever
> since. (Imagine my embarrassment, etc.)
>
> Turning to Partridge's /A dictionary of slang and unconventional
> English/, I found "as right as ninepence" but not "as right as nine
> pins". So that's alright.
>
> Now to my questions. *Why* "as right as ninepence"?
Janet
![Peter Duncanson [BrE]'s profile photo](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjU1GGYFBCZgBCNB-pRgkosMu-ej0qpnECw3jc8uGYOTiF8a=s40-c)
Peter Duncanson [BrE]
Jun 23, 2016, 9:32:56 AM6/23/16
to
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 12:31:53 +0100, Peter Percival
<peterxp...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> From time to time I might describe myself as "as right as ninepence",
>meaning being in good health. I had never given any thought to the
>origin of the phrase until yesterday when I heard "as right as nine
>pins" used with obviously the same meaning. (See footnote.) That alarmed
>me rather. I thought that the idiom was really "as right as nine pins"
>and I had misheard it WIWAL and had been saying the wrong thing ever
>since. (Imagine my embarrassment, etc.)
>
>Turning to Partridge's /A dictionary of slang and unconventional
>English/, I found "as right as ninepence" but not "as right as nine
>pins". So that's alright.
>
>Now to my questions. *Why* "as right as ninepence"? Partridge seems fond
>of inventing derivations, but there is none in this case. Also, is "as
>right as nine pins" at all common?
The OED says:
<peterxp...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> From time to time I might describe myself as "as right as ninepence",
>meaning being in good health. I had never given any thought to the
>origin of the phrase until yesterday when I heard "as right as nine
>pins" used with obviously the same meaning. (See footnote.) That alarmed
>me rather. I thought that the idiom was really "as right as nine pins"
>and I had misheard it WIWAL and had been saying the wrong thing ever
>since. (Imagine my embarrassment, etc.)
>
>Turning to Partridge's /A dictionary of slang and unconventional
>English/, I found "as right as ninepence" but not "as right as nine
>pins". So that's alright.
>
>Now to my questions. *Why* "as right as ninepence"? Partridge seems fond
>of inventing derivations, but there is none in this case. Also, is "as
>right as nine pins" at all common?
ninepence, n.
Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: nine adj.,
pence n.
Etymology: < nine adj. + pence n.
The popular explanation of sense 2b as deriving from ninepins, with
reference to the setting up of the ninepins in order, is unlikely,
as evidence is lacking for early use of ninepins in similar
constructions.
1. A coin worth nine pence. Now hist. and arch.
....
2.
a. The sum or value of nine pence, esp. in British currency before
decimalization.
....
b. as neat (also nice, right, etc.) as ninepence: (of an action)
neat or brisk; (of a person or thing): tidy, healthy,
well-ordered.
1659 J. Howell Eng. Prov. 11/1 As fine as fippence, as neat as
nine pence.
....
"fippence" was a colloquialism for "five pence".
>
>Footnote: see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lmqts. Warning, this
>isn't modern sophisticated humour in which comedians lecture their
>audience and rant. It is only funny if by "funny" one means "wantonly
>silly".
--
(in alt.usage.english)
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