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From: Enrico C <enrico.c@spamcop.net>
Newsgroups: alt.languages.english
Subject: [Idioms #11] at the eleventh hour
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 21:14:19 +0100
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Idiom number 11, "at the eleventh hour".
Some examples I found on the Net:
" Many Singaporeans are disappointed that a new case was announced on
18 May, at the eleventh hour when we were hoping to be taken off the
WHO list of SARS..."
"But at the eleventh hour, the 19 NATO allies managed to reach a
face-saving agreement on Sunday, paving the way for assistance to
Turkey..."
"At the eleventh hour, the delegates finally reached an agreement."
Its meaning is pretty well known: "At the last possible minute, only
just in time...".
But why is it at the "eleventh" hour? Why not at the tenth or at the
twelfth or at the twenty-forth hour?
I read that that comes from the Bible, Matthew 20, 1-16, the parable
of the labourers in the vineyard. And that's a nice old story :)
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an
householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers
into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he
sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle
in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever
is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did
likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing
idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto
them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that
shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his
steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from
the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they
received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have
received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman
of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made
them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no
wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last,
even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine
eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be
called, but few chosen.
--
Enrico C
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