Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Etymology
  5. / Phrase Origins

by Daydreamer on May 11th, 2005

Daydreamer

Question

Help answer this question below.

What is the origin of the phrase "bless his cotton socks"?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 5 helpful answers below.

  • by notmrjohn on May 12th, 2005

    notmrjohn

    George Edward Lynch Cotton, English clergyman and educator, assistant master at Rugby 1837-1852, the “young master” in Thomas Hughes's "Tom Brown's School Days". Bishop of Calcutta, 1858 where he did missionary work and established schools for Eurasian children. In requests to England he asked for donations of clothing, often emphasizing "warm socks" for the children. In fact he seems to have held the simplistic view that if the children had warm socks many of their problems, mal-nutrition, disease, racial prejudice etc. could be easily solved. Little old maiden ladies all over England spent their time knitting socks for Bishop Cotton and sending them off to India. He blessed all items used in his schools, and many shipments would arrive labeled " Socks for Cotton's blessing" and reportedly even "Cotton's socks for blessing". Cotton's socks easily became corrupted to cotton socks,

    The phrase is now a term of endearment for a child who has done something sweet. It is also a way of saying thank-you. Due to its association with "sweet" children and bolstered by Cotton's simplistic views it is often used ironically, thanking someone in a position of authority for suggesting a benevolent, yet simplistic even childish view or solution for a difficult situation. Sometimes just a humorous thank you like " I'll dance at your wedding with bells on."


    ( Why, bless your cotton socks for that rating, dreamer.)

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Jacques on September 11th, 2009

    Jacques

    Old Grandma's in Scotland say it all the time.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by No_Knowledge_Luke on June 21st, 2007

    No_Knowledge_Luke

    Bless her/his cotton socks. (British & Australian, humorous)
    something that you say when you want to express affection for someone. My little niece - bless her cotton socks - won the school poetry prize this year

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by trouble... staying calm on June 21st, 2007

    trouble... staying calm

    http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/21676

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Nelson - Jetpacking from bed on June 21st, 2007

    Nelson - Jetpacking from bed

    I would have to go with, "you, just now" I've never heard it before.

    6 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What is the origin of the phrase "bless his cotton socks"? - which can also be phrased in the following ways:

  • What are the origins of the expression "Bless his cotton socks"?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Bless your cotton socks
Bless his cotton socks
Bless your little cotton socks
Bless her cotton socks
Bless his little cotton socks

Answerbag

a Demand Media company