Words, words, words (and phrases): Hobson's Choice

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Thursday, 1 January 2009

Hobson's Choice

Thomas Hobson, horse-hirer, died this day in 1631. He refused to let customers choose their own mounts. It was his choice or nothing; take it or leave it. Hence Hobson's Choice.

Introduction

My daughter Helen commented in November 2008 in her Blog that she was now keeping a notebook of new words that she came across during her reading. "This week I bought a lovely little leather bound book to write new words in as I read them . I've added a few from "1984", but my favourite has to be persiflage (from the French persifler) which means banter." I later discovered that my older daughter, Bryony, also kept a similar notebook.

This inspired me to create a Word blog. This will include both new words, favourite words and the origins of phrases that we commonly use. A definition and some comment, perhaps even a relevant quotation, will acompany the word or phrase.

Thursday, 1 January 2009

Hobson's Choice

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