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Inside The WordhuntOne Sandwich Short of a PicnicFrom the comic to the dismissive, words surrounding mental health issues can certainly seem very peculiar. Why are bananas the most unstable fruit, and why are brushes considered bats? Wordhunters have helped to answer some of these questions - but not all of their evidence cut the mustard with the OED. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external web sites. bananasUPDATE: Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt! WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1968; information on the origins on the word Did you go bananas before 1968? It’s one of many fruity terms associated with mental incapacity, like fruitcake and crazy as a coconut. But what’s so mad about a bunch of bananas? The OED would like you to set their minds at rest by providing them with earlier datable evidence. bonkersUPDATE: Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt! WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1957; information on the origins of the word Were people bonkers before 1957? Or were they just nuts, loopy, or crackers? The OED has evidence from 1948 of the word being used in Navy slang to mean drunk or light-headed, so there seems to be a connection. But did the word change tack before 1957? daft (or mad) as a brushUPDATE: Still unsolved – can you help? WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1945; information on the origins of the word Why are you daft as a brush, rather than daft as a mop or a feather duster? Was it a phrase invented by chimney sweeps? Or was it coined by huntsmen in reference to the tail of a fox, an animal traditionally thought to be cunning rather than crazy. Any evidence from before 1945 might help to ease the OED’s brain ache. duh brainUPDATE: New entry written with the help of the Wordhunt! WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1997 Does duh brain belong in the dictionary? If you can provide enough compelling evidence for this playground taunt the OED might be convinced to create a new entry. The oldest duh brain they’ve found so far is from 1997, lurking within the pages of J-17 magazine. Do your school books, letters, or diaries prove it was around before that? one sandwich short of a picnicUPDATE: Earlier evidence found through the Wordhunt! WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1993 This is just one variant of a mass of similar constructions to suggest that a person is slightly crazy. Many of the earlier examples are from Australia, refer to building materials, and date back as far as 1939. But can you find evidence of one sandwich short of a picnic from before 1993? |
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