Where does the phrase "out on a limb" come from and What does it mean?

The phrase “out on a limb” means to be at a disadvantage, as one would be if actually upon the limb of a tree, hanging on for dear life and being pelted or shot at by an enemy.

The expression is of American origin and dates from the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Its earliest literary appearance was, in 1897, by Alfred Henry Lewis who, under the pen name of Dan Quin, wrote Wolfville, one of a series of tales about life in a frontier town.

where does the phrase out on a limb come from and what does it mean

Where does the phrase “to come to the end of one’s rope” come from and What does it mean? "Tether" is the older word, but with either "rope" or "tether" the saying goes back many centuries. In original usage the expression "to come to the end of one's rope" alluded apparently to…
What does the phrase “come hell or high water” mean and Where does it come from? The phrase "come hell or high water" means: Let the consequences be whatever they may, however ill. We'd say that this is considerably older than the date 1915, shown for it in A…
What Does the Expression “Until the Cows Come Home” Mean and Where Did the Phrase Come From? If left to their own devices, cows in pasture will regularly show up at the barn for milking twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The expression "'til…
Where does the phrase “the lion’s share” come from and What does it mean? Why the phrase "the lion's share" always means the greater part in any allotment, especially the part that one gives to the "boss" or that, in serving the dessert, mother apportions to father,…
What does the phrase “Simon pure” mean and Where does it come from? We use this when we mean that an article is genuine, not an imitation but the real thing. Sometimes for greater emphasis we say, "the real Simon pure." The author of the phrase…
What does the term “Charley horse” mean and Where does the phrase come from? A paragrapher in Ladies' Home Journal (Vol. LXX, No. 12) asserted without hesitation that the term "Charley horse" for muscular stiffness came about thus: In the 1890's, a horse (named Charley) which drew…

Where does the phrase “out on a limb” come from and What does it mean?

Related Posts

About Karen Hill