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by iwnit on March 3rd, 2009
" The first reference we can find is from 1973. Many other references date from soon after that, which points to the phrase being coined in that year. For example, this from The Lima News, Ohio, January 1973:
"He said he felt like the minister who was preaching to the choir. That is, to the people who always come to church, but not the ones who need it most."
The phrase may not be old but it does express the same idea as an earlier phrase - 'preaching to the converted', and is almost certainly a follow-on from that."
Source and further information:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/preaching-to-the-choir.html
by MrJosh on March 3rd, 2009
I'm no expert, but I would imagine it is just a metaphor. it is a religious reference that means you are talking to people who already think the way you do. It is like a priest/pastor/individual of the cloth giving a sermon to the choir (people who already believe, or they wouldn't be in the choir). It also means that you have a very easy audience.
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