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The origin comes from the Peter tax and the Paul tax:. The expression refers to times before the Reformation when Church taxes had to be paid to St. Paul's church in London and to St. Peter's church in Rome; originally it referred to neglecting the Peter tax in order to have money to pay the Paul tax.
The Peter/Paul team is neither better nor worse than before. Another interpretation is that you're trying to do something righteous ("paying Paul") but you've committed a sin ("robbing Peter") to do it. So regardless of Peter/Paul's relationship, in the end you're not doing anything positive for yourself either. –
– Peter Shor . Commented Sep 4, 2014 ... "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" came to mind for some reason, but ...
What is the origin of "Robbing Peter to pay Paul"? 10. Etymological origin of "deosil" and "widdershins" 10.
It is recorded at least from the mid-1900's but was likely in use before this. Blind, as it is used in these phrases, is thought to have come from its use in early 20th century student slang meaning 'completely, totally.'. With that in mind, to rob someone blind means 'to take absolutely everything from someone.'. Share.
What is the difference between bucket and pail?. Is there a distinction between the shape of a bucket and the shape of a pail?
1. Robbing itself is the act of thieving using coercion/force. So a Robber would be a proper word to. You can use some alternatives like Marauder/Plunderer. Maruad. "go about in search of things to steal or people to attack." Plunder. "steal goods from (a place or person), typically using force". Share.
Dear Sir is possibly a little over-formal these days, but the choice between Dear Rector, Dear Rector Smith, Dear Professor/Dr/Mr Smith/ and Dear Egbert will depend on the conventions in the institution in which you are studying/working.
Peter Shor, Alex B, and tchrist mention the regional form didn't ought to. Tchrist also mentions hadn't ought and might ought to, and notes that the OED says did ought is dialectic, colloquial, and vulgar. Should ought to is another form sometimes seen (ref. ngrams). In transcriptions it's often rendered as should oughta or more tersely.
This had been in use since the mid-1950s, Paul Beale states in Partridge/Slang, though few others had heard of it. Perhaps Burgess simply got the location wrong as the phrase was reported from Liverpool in Shaw & Spiegl, Lern Yerself Scouse (1966): 'E's as queer as clockwerk oringe' — 'He enjoys being hugged after scoring a goal' (this was a ...