woofer49
Heard this most of my life and always wondered about the Handbasket thing, what they were referencing when that started. Another one I used to hear was "Shanks Mare" and was said when we were asking for a ride somewhere and that was the response, meaning, Walk, you have feet. Uncommon, but heard from time to time. Things we say and do not really question where they came from are sometimes fascinating. A penny for your thoughts, That is one for the Grist Mill, etc. Moxie, (extra points if you know the origin of this adjective usually meaning a girl with street smarts, pluck,and a take no prisoners attitude. My favorite is the story of the stoic New England farmer, a Pa Kettle type, when asked directions to a certain place responds "You can't get there from HERE!"
3 Answers
Flip
Meaning
To be 'going to hell in a handbasket' is to be rapidly deteriorating - on course for disaster.
Origin
It isn't at all obvious why 'handbasket' was chosen as the preferred vehicle to convey people to hell. One theory on the origin of the phrase is that derives from the use of handbaskets in the guillotining method of capital punishment. If Hollywood films are to be believed, the decapitated heads were caught in baskets - the casualty presumably going straight to hell, without passing Go.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hell-in-a-handbasket.html
| 12 years ago. Rating: 5 | |
hotmesscris
jhharlan
