- NEW!
by VSPrasad on December 5th, 2007
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS - "What's on your mind? (Usually said to someone who is looking pensive.) The saying is from a time when the British penny was worth a significant sum. In 1522, Sir Thomas More wrote (in 'Four Last Things'): 'It often happeth, that the very face sheweth the mind walking a pilgrimage, in such wise that.other folk sodainly say to them a peny for your thought.'" From "The Dictionary of Cliches" by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/24/messages/454.html
You've been awfully quiet--a penny for your thoughts. This expression dates from the 1500s and was in John Heywood's 1546 collection of proverbs.
http://www.answers.com/Penny%20for%20your%20thoughts
(idiomatic) A phrase used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another - usually used when the person appears pensive or conflicted.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/penny_for_your_thoughts
You can try these three sites for origins of sayings:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/
http://www.answers.com/
http://en.wiktionary.org/
What Persian word does pashmina come from?
by Answerbag Staff on April 23rd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
What does\"in the land of\"mean?
by Answerbag Staff on April 22nd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
What does bottom line mean?
by Answerbag Staff on April 22nd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Where does the term Rain check come from?
by theLastCynthia on January 21st, 2012
| 2 people like this
Who is on your mind 25-7
by ChelseaLee on January 14th, 2012
| 3 people like this
You're reading What is the origin of the saying "penny for your thoughts"? Does anyone know of a good site to look up the origins of sayings?
Your favorite Q&A site is on Facebook! Become a fan to connect with the ever-growing community of Answerbaggers, share your thoughts and find out what Answerbag's up to next!
Comments