GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15:49 Jun 8, 2016 |
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO] Idioms / Maxims / Sayings | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||||
| Selected response from: Taña Dalglish Jamaica Local time: 09:02 | ||||||
Grading comment
|
SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
3 +4 | See discussion below |
| ||
2 +5 | most successful, lavish, and well-connected party-giving woman [more below] |
| ||
4 +2 | the very best there is |
|
Discussion entries: 13 | |
---|---|
the proverbial ‘hostess with the mostest’ See discussion below Explanation: It's just a nonsense saying, based on the simply rhyme, that has been re-used and referred to in other contexts since. 'hostess' is of course a lady who receives guests — in this sense, usually someone who entertains at home; I first remember hearing this expression in the '60s, but I imagine it was coined before that. 'the mostest' just refers in general terms to being the best, having the best food / table decorations / conversation, etc. I even wonder if it wasn't originally an advertising slogan of some kind — "your dinner party won't be socially acceptable unless you have [our product]" — which might well have been a "Hostess trolley", the essential aspirational product os any self-respecting '60s hostess! That, and a serving hatch! -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 10 minutes (2016-06-08 15:59:55 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- Although it was originally a positive expression, certainly, I'd say that in more recent years it has tended sometimes to be used with a wanly ironic air, as if referring to those sad people who do the rounds of dinner-parties trying so desperately to keep up with the Joneses. A good example might be Hyacinth Bucket in the UK TV comedy series "Keeping up Appearances", who seeks desperately — and ultimately pathetically — to always be the "hostess with the mostest" even in the face of her reduced circumstances. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 14 minutes (2016-06-08 16:03:51 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- Knowing that it comes originally from the song lyrics in "Call me Madam" explains who they got away with the lame rhyme. -------------------------------------------------- Note added at 16 heures (2016-06-09 08:47:24 GMT) -------------------------------------------------- When I said "lame rhyme", I wasn't criticizing the wonderful music by the oh-so-talented Irving Berlin — which I love! I was simply referring to the way such cringeworthy rhymes are often contrived to fit the needs of a song! |
| ||
Notes to answerer
| |||