Talk:what's your poison
Latest comment: 14 days ago by Wordiesmith in topic First use
First use[edit]
In the OED, the first example of the use of 'poison' meaning alcohol is from the US, but the first use of the humorous phrase is Australian: 1909 A huge rough-and-ready miner accosts us thusly ‘Well mate, what's your poison?’ E. Waltham, Life & Labour in Australia, 31 Wordiesmith (talk) 14:38, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
- @Wordiesmith There are earlier American uses of the phrase than the 1909 quote, see [1]. On the other hand, there are other uses (see Green's) from different places from pretty much the same time period (including the Australian quote you mention), and the use of poison to mean a drink seems to have existed in various places throughout time (see Green's once again), so I think no geographical label is warranted here at all. lattermint (talk) 19:12, 13 May 2024 (UTC)
- Thank you. Wordiesmith (talk) 19:11, 14 May 2024 (UTC)