AboutTed Nesbitt Expertise I have an interest in the meanings of words and phrases, as well as how and when they became part of the English language. I enjoy
researching idioms, colloquialisms, dialects, and obscurities of
all kinds. I prefer short questions on a particular subject, and
I will not accept lengthy research projects or term papers. NOTE: ALLEXPERTS CLAIMS THAT I TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LATIN AND FROM LATIN TO ENGLISH. I DO NOT. ALLEXPERTS REFUSES TO DELETE THE LATIN-TO-ENGLISH SERVICE -- ONE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE.
TRUST ME ON THIS: ALLEXPERTS IS WRONG. I DO NOT TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LANGUAGE. LOOK FOR A LANGUAGE EXPERT INSTEAD. ETYMOLOGY AND TRANSLATING SERVICES ARE ENTIRELY DIFFERENT. ALLEXPERTS SHOULD KNOW THAT. ALLEXPERTS DOES NOT KNOW THAT. I HAVE TRIED FOR MANY YEARS TO GET THEM TO CHANGE. THEY WILL NOT. SORRY, BUT I DO NOT TRANSLATE FROM ENGLISH TO LATIN.
Experience I am the bibliographic instruction and reference librarian at a public
college. My master's thesis concerns William Faulkner's tragic novels. I formerly taught advanced placement English at two schools in the Philadelphia area.
I have been a member of the grammar and writing section of Allexperts
for more than a year.
Education/Credentials Masters degrees in English, philosophy, and library science.
Question My father used to say to me, when he was somewhat annoyed, "You're giving me
the pip." Would you happen to know the origin of this saying? Any help you
could be, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Answer Michael:
Accord to "The Oxford English Dictionary [OED]," the word [spelled pippe] was first used in WRITTEN English about the year 1425. It was a disease of the mouth, somewhat related to a disease that affected fowl, especially chickens. It came from the Latin word "pituita."
It gradually took on other meanings, becoming associated with being annoyed or irritated, in the year 1881.
Here is the complete entry from the OED:
to have (also get) the pip: to be (or become) depressed, despondent, or unwell. to give a person the pip: to annoy or irritate; to make angry, bad-tempered, or dispirited.
1881 G. MCDONALD Coney Island (MS) II. i. 3 My heart has got the pipit is palpitating like a steamboat. 1896 A. BEARDSLEY Let. c17 Sept. (1971) 165 Are you suffering with a south-west wind in London? It prevails here utterly and has given me the pip. 1913 Punch 15 Oct. 324/3 [His] later works gave him the pure pip. 1923 P. G. WODEHOUSE Inimitable Jeeves iii. 36 If there's one thing that gives me the pip, it's unpleasantness in the home. 1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 18 Apr. 20 Dear-o-dear, he fair gave me the pip. Talk about gloom! 1992 New Yorker 6 July 5/1 This camp musical about a monster child star is harmless and amusing enoughassuming you can stomach the little girl. She gave us the pip.
pip 3
Noun
1. a contagious disease of poultry
2. Facetious slang a minor human ailment
3. give someone the pip Brit, NZ & S African slang to annoy someone: it really gives me the pip
4. get or have the pip NZ slang to sulk [Middle Dutch pippe]
