Origins, Question of the Month, and Being Thankful

Origins is an every-once-in-a-while recurring post in which I delve into the history of a word or phrase.

Today's phrase is: Nothing to sneeze at.

I used this the other day in a comment I left on someone's blog. As soon as I did, I thought, "I wonder where that phrase came from?" And so now, after doing a bit of research, here I am with an explanation.

There was actually a time in 17th and 18th centuries, when it was considered polite to sneeze in good society. Of course good society consisted of the well to-do and aristocracy. So the more you sneezed, the more polite you were. But sneezes are involuntary and spontaneous, so how was a person supposed to sneeze politely on demand? Thus it was that snuff entered the scene. One could stuff a bit of snuff (which was finely ground tobacco) up one's nose and politely sneeze when one wanted to.

But being able to sneeze at will wasn't enough. One had to be able to sneeze for a reason. Sneezing became a part of the conversation among men, a way of showing one's disapproval or disregard over something said, or to express boredom.

The first written example of sneezing in this manner appeared in the 1806 novel, A Winter in London, by Thomas Skinner Surr.

“A word in your ear,” said his lordship: “Do you know, I have quite changed my mind about that business since I met the marquis. He tells me that it’s a sort of thing a young fellow of my expectations ought to sneeze at."

Thus, NOT to sneeze at something has come to mean that something is really worth while. The first written example of the phrase comes from the 1799 play Fortune's Frolic, by John Till Allingham.

“Why, as to his consent I don’t value it a button; but then £5000 is a sum not to be sneezed at.”

And there you have it, the history of sneezing in polite society.

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I joined this monthly bloghop because answering thoughtful/challenging questions is one way to expand one's mind. Hosted by Michael D'Agostino at A Life Examined ,  the question this month is: 

Of all the places in the world that you haven't yet been to, where would you like to go next?

I've done some traveling, particularly around the U. S.

I've been to the Grand Canyon (camped at the Havasupai Indian Reservation twice) Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Death Valley. Been mountain climbing in the Rockies, seen the redwoods. I've seen the Grand Tetons, Bryce Canyon, and Carlsbad Caverns. I've visited places like Roswell, New York City, Washington D. C.(and the Smithsonian) San Francisco, and L. A. to name a few.

Since I live in Texas, I've explored the Alamo and the San Antonio River Walk, walked around Austin, been to Galveston and South Padre Island and driven across the state (north/south, east/west) more than once...

I've also had the opportunity to visit other islands in the Caribbean, St. Lucia, Antigua, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Barbados, St. Maarten/St. Martin. Plus, in 1970, went to Caracas, Venezuela.

Lastly, a few years ago, as some may remember, I went to the Netherlands and had a fabulous time.

Still, there's one place I'd dearly love to visit and spend a least a month or more. Scotland. Why Scotland? I have deep ancestral roots there and would like to go to the towns and villages where my ancestor was born and walk the streets he walked. I'm not sure, at this point in my life, if it will ever happen. Still, it's a dream and a nice one at that.

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Being Thankful

Today I'm thankful for sunshine. 

After all the rain and weeks (yes weeks) of overcast skies, it's nice to see blue again and stars at night.

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What are you thankful for? What do you think about sneezing in polite society? Have you traveled anywhere special? Is there some place you'd like to go? If there's a word or phrase you'd like me explore for Origins, mention it in the comments!