Where did the term in a pickle originate?

Origin. William Shakespeare is thought to be the first to use the idiom “in a pickle” in The Tempest. But he gave it a somewhat different meaning — in England, “pickle” actually refers to something close to relish, and one is “in a pickle” if they’re inebriated.

Who created the phrase in a pickle?

By the looks of it, this happened not long after the Shakespeare play. For example, Samuel Pepys used the phrase in the mid-17th century. He wrote it down in his diary in the year 1660: “At home with the workmen all the afternoon, our house being in a most sad pickle.”

Where did in a pickle come from Shakespeare?

The phrase “In a pickle” means to be in a tight spot, or difficult position. Although there are some early written records of “pickling” as a stew and as a preservative process for vegetables, Shakespeare was one of the first to have a figurative use for “In a pickle” in 1610 when he wrote The Tempest.

Did Shakespeare come up with the phrase in pickles?

Shakespeare came up with this phrase for The Tempest. Well, sort of. We should tell you that there are a few references before the legendary poet to using pickle as a way of expressing something else, like “ill pickle.” But no one was in a pickle until Shakespeare rolled out The Tempest.

What does it mean when someone calls you a pickle?

If you are in a pickle, you are in a difficult position, or have a problem to which no easy answer can be found. The word ‘pickle’ comes from the Dutch word ‘pekel’, meaning ‘something piquant’, and originally referred to a spiced, salted vinegar that was used as a preservative.

What does pickle mean in slang?

The definition of a pickle is an awkward or difficult situation. An example of a pickle is needing to help two friends, but only having time to help one. noun.

Who said IM in a pickle?

Lots of people do think Shakespeare originated the phrase. He’s the source of so many phrases we still use, it seems reasonable to think he’s responsible for this one too. He did use it in “The Tempest”: How cam’st thou in this pickle?/ I have bin in such a pickle since I saw you last.

Why are pickles called Pickles?

The word “pickle” comes from the Dutch pekel or northern German pókel, meaning “salt” or “brine,” two very important components in the pickling process. Pickled cucumbers are often lacto-fermented in saltwater brine.

What does pickle mean in Britain?

In the US a pickle is a cucumber that’s been pickled, but in the UK such things are called dill cucumbers or, if they’re not dill, pickled cucumbers. In the UK, pickle, also known as sweet pickle, is a condiment made of chopped vegetables and fruits pickled in vinegar and sugar or other sweet ingredient.

What is the meaning of stick his neck out?

Today’s Phrase If you stick your neck out, it means you take a risk by saying or doing something that other people might not like. Examples: John stuck his neck out and told the boss what we thought of him.

Where did the phrase ‘in a pickle’ originate?

In a pickle means in a difficult situation or in a quandary. The origin of the phrase in a pickle seems to stem from two different places. First, there is the sixteenth century Dutch phrase in de pekel zitten which literally translates as sitting in the pickle, meaning to be drunk.

What does the saying in a Pickle mean?

“In a pickle” is an English idiom that refers to someone who has ended up in a difficult situation. Although the phrase’s colorful nature suggests that the predicaments are more nuisances than major problems, it can be used for any situation where someone cannot find a way out of a dilemma.

What does the phrase “stuck in a Pickle” mean?

These days, the phrase “in a pickle” has an old-timey ring about it–the last time you heard it, it was probably referring to a baseball player trapped between two bases, and even that’s more commonly called a “rundown” by today’s commentators. But you know what it means: to be stuck in a difficult situation .

What does a ‘Pickle’ mean?

Pickle(verb) a troublesome child; as, a little pickle. Pickle(verb) to preserve or season in pickle; to treat with some kind of pickle; as, to pickle herrings or cucumbers. Pickle(verb) to give an antique appearance to; — said of copies or imitations of paintings by the old masters.