Where did the idiom of 'That's gas' originate?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
I often say 'That's gas' to refer to something that I found humorous.
I have looked to find how it originated but could not locate.
Anybody aware of it's history?
phrases idioms
|
show 1 more comment
I often say 'That's gas' to refer to something that I found humorous.
I have looked to find how it originated but could not locate.
Anybody aware of it's history?
phrases idioms
1
That's a gas persists as a rather old-fashioned expression in the U.S. (e.g. in Looney Tunes cartoons), but I've only heard that's gas from Irish speakers.
– choster
May 13 at 16:48
1
The expression is: "That's a gas." [humorous]
– Lambie
May 13 at 17:13
Thanks choster and lambie. I did some further searching after your comments. It does seem to be an irish slang phrase, possibly first used by James Joyce in 1914.
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Looking further to see if it is an adaptation of 'Its a gas'
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
This article might prove helpful. Also, later recordings of Frank Sinatra's song "Saturday Night" contain the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas", while earlier recordings use "Monday to Friday go fast".
– Zack
May 13 at 17:37
|
show 1 more comment
I often say 'That's gas' to refer to something that I found humorous.
I have looked to find how it originated but could not locate.
Anybody aware of it's history?
phrases idioms
I often say 'That's gas' to refer to something that I found humorous.
I have looked to find how it originated but could not locate.
Anybody aware of it's history?
phrases idioms
phrases idioms
edited May 13 at 19:00
user240918
28.1k1276166
28.1k1276166
asked May 13 at 16:42
Curly WattsCurly Watts
502
502
1
That's a gas persists as a rather old-fashioned expression in the U.S. (e.g. in Looney Tunes cartoons), but I've only heard that's gas from Irish speakers.
– choster
May 13 at 16:48
1
The expression is: "That's a gas." [humorous]
– Lambie
May 13 at 17:13
Thanks choster and lambie. I did some further searching after your comments. It does seem to be an irish slang phrase, possibly first used by James Joyce in 1914.
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Looking further to see if it is an adaptation of 'Its a gas'
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
This article might prove helpful. Also, later recordings of Frank Sinatra's song "Saturday Night" contain the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas", while earlier recordings use "Monday to Friday go fast".
– Zack
May 13 at 17:37
|
show 1 more comment
1
That's a gas persists as a rather old-fashioned expression in the U.S. (e.g. in Looney Tunes cartoons), but I've only heard that's gas from Irish speakers.
– choster
May 13 at 16:48
1
The expression is: "That's a gas." [humorous]
– Lambie
May 13 at 17:13
Thanks choster and lambie. I did some further searching after your comments. It does seem to be an irish slang phrase, possibly first used by James Joyce in 1914.
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Looking further to see if it is an adaptation of 'Its a gas'
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
This article might prove helpful. Also, later recordings of Frank Sinatra's song "Saturday Night" contain the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas", while earlier recordings use "Monday to Friday go fast".
– Zack
May 13 at 17:37
1
1
That's a gas persists as a rather old-fashioned expression in the U.S. (e.g. in Looney Tunes cartoons), but I've only heard that's gas from Irish speakers.
– choster
May 13 at 16:48
That's a gas persists as a rather old-fashioned expression in the U.S. (e.g. in Looney Tunes cartoons), but I've only heard that's gas from Irish speakers.
– choster
May 13 at 16:48
1
1
The expression is: "That's a gas." [humorous]
– Lambie
May 13 at 17:13
The expression is: "That's a gas." [humorous]
– Lambie
May 13 at 17:13
Thanks choster and lambie. I did some further searching after your comments. It does seem to be an irish slang phrase, possibly first used by James Joyce in 1914.
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Thanks choster and lambie. I did some further searching after your comments. It does seem to be an irish slang phrase, possibly first used by James Joyce in 1914.
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Looking further to see if it is an adaptation of 'Its a gas'
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Looking further to see if it is an adaptation of 'Its a gas'
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
This article might prove helpful. Also, later recordings of Frank Sinatra's song "Saturday Night" contain the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas", while earlier recordings use "Monday to Friday go fast".
– Zack
May 13 at 17:37
This article might prove helpful. Also, later recordings of Frank Sinatra's song "Saturday Night" contain the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas", while earlier recordings use "Monday to Friday go fast".
– Zack
May 13 at 17:37
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
It’s probably a variant of the old expression It’s a gas which ultimately referred to the discovery of nitrous oxide and its power to give euphoria to those who inhaled it:
Scientist Humphrey Davy noticed that nitrous oxide produced a state of induced euphoria which led to laughter followed by a state of stupor and, finally, a dreamy and sedated state. Seeing no harm in the use of the gas, he introduced nitrous oxide to the British upper class as a recreational drug in 1799 at gatherings that were quickly coined “laughing parties.
At these “laughing parties” guests would take a whiff of nitrous oxide and then throw themselves in what were referred to as “nitrous oxide capers.” These capers led guests to stumbling about, slurring their speech and falling down. Davy noted that some people at these “laughing parties” found themselves in a state of induced euphoria due to the gas.
It didn’t take long for the term “it’s a gas” to become a sort of code for what one could expect if they attended a certain British upper class gathering.
It wouldn’t be until 1835 that nitrous oxide would be used medically but by then, the term “laughing gas” had stuck even with medical professionals.
While the “laughing parties” and “nitrous oxide capers” are things of the past, the term “it’s a gas” continues to imply that the event or activity is sure to amuse and bring gales of laughter to those attending the event or participating in the activity.
(Historically Speaking)
add a comment |
As OP has noted in a comment, the origin of the phrase may have originated in James Joyce's 1914 anthology Dubliners, specifically the short story "An Encounter" (emphasis mine, link to story here):
When I had been sitting there for five or ten minutes I saw Mahony’s grey suit approaching. He came up the hill, smiling, and clambered up beside me on the bridge. While we were waiting he brought out the catapult which bulged from his inner pocket and explained some improvements which he had made in it. I asked him why he had brought it and he told me he had brought it to have some gas with the birds. Mahony used slang freely, and spoke of Father Butler as Old Bunser.
Since the speaker seems to identify this as slang, maybe it's something Joyce overheard when working on the story.
Per Google Ngram Viewer, the phrase really seems to have picked up and stayed constant in the latter half of the 2nd century:
Interestingly, the Frank Sinatra song "Saturday Night" uses the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas" in later recordings, but the phrase "Monday to Friday go fast" in earlier ones. This might be an instance of the slang term becoming more common.
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f498271%2fwhere-did-the-idiom-of-thats-gas-originate%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It’s probably a variant of the old expression It’s a gas which ultimately referred to the discovery of nitrous oxide and its power to give euphoria to those who inhaled it:
Scientist Humphrey Davy noticed that nitrous oxide produced a state of induced euphoria which led to laughter followed by a state of stupor and, finally, a dreamy and sedated state. Seeing no harm in the use of the gas, he introduced nitrous oxide to the British upper class as a recreational drug in 1799 at gatherings that were quickly coined “laughing parties.
At these “laughing parties” guests would take a whiff of nitrous oxide and then throw themselves in what were referred to as “nitrous oxide capers.” These capers led guests to stumbling about, slurring their speech and falling down. Davy noted that some people at these “laughing parties” found themselves in a state of induced euphoria due to the gas.
It didn’t take long for the term “it’s a gas” to become a sort of code for what one could expect if they attended a certain British upper class gathering.
It wouldn’t be until 1835 that nitrous oxide would be used medically but by then, the term “laughing gas” had stuck even with medical professionals.
While the “laughing parties” and “nitrous oxide capers” are things of the past, the term “it’s a gas” continues to imply that the event or activity is sure to amuse and bring gales of laughter to those attending the event or participating in the activity.
(Historically Speaking)
add a comment |
It’s probably a variant of the old expression It’s a gas which ultimately referred to the discovery of nitrous oxide and its power to give euphoria to those who inhaled it:
Scientist Humphrey Davy noticed that nitrous oxide produced a state of induced euphoria which led to laughter followed by a state of stupor and, finally, a dreamy and sedated state. Seeing no harm in the use of the gas, he introduced nitrous oxide to the British upper class as a recreational drug in 1799 at gatherings that were quickly coined “laughing parties.
At these “laughing parties” guests would take a whiff of nitrous oxide and then throw themselves in what were referred to as “nitrous oxide capers.” These capers led guests to stumbling about, slurring their speech and falling down. Davy noted that some people at these “laughing parties” found themselves in a state of induced euphoria due to the gas.
It didn’t take long for the term “it’s a gas” to become a sort of code for what one could expect if they attended a certain British upper class gathering.
It wouldn’t be until 1835 that nitrous oxide would be used medically but by then, the term “laughing gas” had stuck even with medical professionals.
While the “laughing parties” and “nitrous oxide capers” are things of the past, the term “it’s a gas” continues to imply that the event or activity is sure to amuse and bring gales of laughter to those attending the event or participating in the activity.
(Historically Speaking)
add a comment |
It’s probably a variant of the old expression It’s a gas which ultimately referred to the discovery of nitrous oxide and its power to give euphoria to those who inhaled it:
Scientist Humphrey Davy noticed that nitrous oxide produced a state of induced euphoria which led to laughter followed by a state of stupor and, finally, a dreamy and sedated state. Seeing no harm in the use of the gas, he introduced nitrous oxide to the British upper class as a recreational drug in 1799 at gatherings that were quickly coined “laughing parties.
At these “laughing parties” guests would take a whiff of nitrous oxide and then throw themselves in what were referred to as “nitrous oxide capers.” These capers led guests to stumbling about, slurring their speech and falling down. Davy noted that some people at these “laughing parties” found themselves in a state of induced euphoria due to the gas.
It didn’t take long for the term “it’s a gas” to become a sort of code for what one could expect if they attended a certain British upper class gathering.
It wouldn’t be until 1835 that nitrous oxide would be used medically but by then, the term “laughing gas” had stuck even with medical professionals.
While the “laughing parties” and “nitrous oxide capers” are things of the past, the term “it’s a gas” continues to imply that the event or activity is sure to amuse and bring gales of laughter to those attending the event or participating in the activity.
(Historically Speaking)
It’s probably a variant of the old expression It’s a gas which ultimately referred to the discovery of nitrous oxide and its power to give euphoria to those who inhaled it:
Scientist Humphrey Davy noticed that nitrous oxide produced a state of induced euphoria which led to laughter followed by a state of stupor and, finally, a dreamy and sedated state. Seeing no harm in the use of the gas, he introduced nitrous oxide to the British upper class as a recreational drug in 1799 at gatherings that were quickly coined “laughing parties.
At these “laughing parties” guests would take a whiff of nitrous oxide and then throw themselves in what were referred to as “nitrous oxide capers.” These capers led guests to stumbling about, slurring their speech and falling down. Davy noted that some people at these “laughing parties” found themselves in a state of induced euphoria due to the gas.
It didn’t take long for the term “it’s a gas” to become a sort of code for what one could expect if they attended a certain British upper class gathering.
It wouldn’t be until 1835 that nitrous oxide would be used medically but by then, the term “laughing gas” had stuck even with medical professionals.
While the “laughing parties” and “nitrous oxide capers” are things of the past, the term “it’s a gas” continues to imply that the event or activity is sure to amuse and bring gales of laughter to those attending the event or participating in the activity.
(Historically Speaking)
answered May 13 at 18:48
user240918user240918
28.1k1276166
28.1k1276166
add a comment |
add a comment |
As OP has noted in a comment, the origin of the phrase may have originated in James Joyce's 1914 anthology Dubliners, specifically the short story "An Encounter" (emphasis mine, link to story here):
When I had been sitting there for five or ten minutes I saw Mahony’s grey suit approaching. He came up the hill, smiling, and clambered up beside me on the bridge. While we were waiting he brought out the catapult which bulged from his inner pocket and explained some improvements which he had made in it. I asked him why he had brought it and he told me he had brought it to have some gas with the birds. Mahony used slang freely, and spoke of Father Butler as Old Bunser.
Since the speaker seems to identify this as slang, maybe it's something Joyce overheard when working on the story.
Per Google Ngram Viewer, the phrase really seems to have picked up and stayed constant in the latter half of the 2nd century:
Interestingly, the Frank Sinatra song "Saturday Night" uses the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas" in later recordings, but the phrase "Monday to Friday go fast" in earlier ones. This might be an instance of the slang term becoming more common.
add a comment |
As OP has noted in a comment, the origin of the phrase may have originated in James Joyce's 1914 anthology Dubliners, specifically the short story "An Encounter" (emphasis mine, link to story here):
When I had been sitting there for five or ten minutes I saw Mahony’s grey suit approaching. He came up the hill, smiling, and clambered up beside me on the bridge. While we were waiting he brought out the catapult which bulged from his inner pocket and explained some improvements which he had made in it. I asked him why he had brought it and he told me he had brought it to have some gas with the birds. Mahony used slang freely, and spoke of Father Butler as Old Bunser.
Since the speaker seems to identify this as slang, maybe it's something Joyce overheard when working on the story.
Per Google Ngram Viewer, the phrase really seems to have picked up and stayed constant in the latter half of the 2nd century:
Interestingly, the Frank Sinatra song "Saturday Night" uses the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas" in later recordings, but the phrase "Monday to Friday go fast" in earlier ones. This might be an instance of the slang term becoming more common.
add a comment |
As OP has noted in a comment, the origin of the phrase may have originated in James Joyce's 1914 anthology Dubliners, specifically the short story "An Encounter" (emphasis mine, link to story here):
When I had been sitting there for five or ten minutes I saw Mahony’s grey suit approaching. He came up the hill, smiling, and clambered up beside me on the bridge. While we were waiting he brought out the catapult which bulged from his inner pocket and explained some improvements which he had made in it. I asked him why he had brought it and he told me he had brought it to have some gas with the birds. Mahony used slang freely, and spoke of Father Butler as Old Bunser.
Since the speaker seems to identify this as slang, maybe it's something Joyce overheard when working on the story.
Per Google Ngram Viewer, the phrase really seems to have picked up and stayed constant in the latter half of the 2nd century:
Interestingly, the Frank Sinatra song "Saturday Night" uses the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas" in later recordings, but the phrase "Monday to Friday go fast" in earlier ones. This might be an instance of the slang term becoming more common.
As OP has noted in a comment, the origin of the phrase may have originated in James Joyce's 1914 anthology Dubliners, specifically the short story "An Encounter" (emphasis mine, link to story here):
When I had been sitting there for five or ten minutes I saw Mahony’s grey suit approaching. He came up the hill, smiling, and clambered up beside me on the bridge. While we were waiting he brought out the catapult which bulged from his inner pocket and explained some improvements which he had made in it. I asked him why he had brought it and he told me he had brought it to have some gas with the birds. Mahony used slang freely, and spoke of Father Butler as Old Bunser.
Since the speaker seems to identify this as slang, maybe it's something Joyce overheard when working on the story.
Per Google Ngram Viewer, the phrase really seems to have picked up and stayed constant in the latter half of the 2nd century:
Interestingly, the Frank Sinatra song "Saturday Night" uses the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas" in later recordings, but the phrase "Monday to Friday go fast" in earlier ones. This might be an instance of the slang term becoming more common.
answered May 13 at 17:47
ZackZack
39310
39310
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f498271%2fwhere-did-the-idiom-of-thats-gas-originate%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
That's a gas persists as a rather old-fashioned expression in the U.S. (e.g. in Looney Tunes cartoons), but I've only heard that's gas from Irish speakers.
– choster
May 13 at 16:48
1
The expression is: "That's a gas." [humorous]
– Lambie
May 13 at 17:13
Thanks choster and lambie. I did some further searching after your comments. It does seem to be an irish slang phrase, possibly first used by James Joyce in 1914.
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
Looking further to see if it is an adaptation of 'Its a gas'
– Curly Watts
May 13 at 17:26
This article might prove helpful. Also, later recordings of Frank Sinatra's song "Saturday Night" contain the phrase "Monday to Friday are a gas", while earlier recordings use "Monday to Friday go fast".
– Zack
May 13 at 17:37