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From: Enrico C <enrico.c@spamcop.net>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: Re: [Idioms #4] Colours - Pink
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 04:53:41 +0000 (UTC)
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Enrico C | alt.languages.english
in <news:jj1oi8od30yf$.dlg@news.lillathedog.net>
> Then, "In the pink", looking and feeling healthy and happy. "Last time
> I saw Barb, she was in the pink. She looked great.", says the Wayne
> Magnuson site, a wonderful list of English idioms on the net.
> So, I understand "pink" means "very well, very fine, at the top",
> here.
> Where does that positive meaning come from?
> Is it just because pink is a nice, graceful colour? Or is there story
> behind?
It seems it has nothing to do with colour, actually!
Here's an interesting explanation I found on the "Phrase Finder" site.
It says that "pink" was an old form for "peak".
QUOTE http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/4/messages/1367.html
The pink here has nothing to do with colour, rather with the same
source as pinking scissors. They are both based on the old English
pynca meaning "point", hence "peak" or "apex". Shakespeare in Romeo
and Juliet (II, iv) speaks of "the pink of courtesy".
UNQUOTE
--
Enrico C ~ No native speaker
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