• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / What does the phrase “beyond the pale” mean and Where does it come from?

What does the phrase “beyond the pale” mean and Where does it come from?

July 18, 2020 by Karen Hill

We use the expression “beyond the pale” now as if it had the same meaning as “on the wrong side of the tracks”; that is, socially unfit.

That is an acquired sense. “Pale” means the region or district under the jurisdiction of a governing body, the part figuratively enclosed by a paling or fence.

In English history, “the pale” meant those portions of Ireland, or Scotland, or France which, at various times, were under English jurisdiction. So “beyond (or without) the pale” originally meant nothing more than outside the district ruled by England.

But rogues or even honest men sometimes preferred not to be under the jurisdiction of English laws and would “leap the pale,” thus becoming an outlaw or, in modern usage, a social outcast.

Related Facts

  • What Does the Expression "Beyond the Pale" Mean and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
  • Where does the phrase "to come to the end of one's rope" come from and What does it mean?
  • What does the phrase "come hell or high water" mean and Where does it come from?
  • What Does the Expression "Until the Cows Come Home" Mean and Where Did the Phrase Come From?
  • Where does the phrase "touch and go" come from and What does touch and go mean?
  • Where does the phrase "alpha and omega" come from and What does alpha and omega mean?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What does the expression “to run the gantlet” mean and Where does it come from?
Next Post: What does the expression “grass widow” mean and Where does it come from? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy