| General Non-Fiction posted December 12, 2021 | Chapters: |
...20 21 -22- 23... 
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Inadvertent Offense
A chapter in the book Idioms Explained
... in a 'coon's age
by Elizabeth Emerald
A few years back, a woman I was friendly with in the locker room of the gym (not that kind of friendly) came in from her swim, flustered. Sally told me she'd encountered a fellow at the pool, whom she hadn't seen in months.
She greeted him with these words:
"Hello, Jim! I haven't seen you in a 'coons age."
Jim nodded curtly, then walked away.
It was then Sally realized: Jim, who is black, had taken 'coon -- short for raccoon -- as a racial slur.
Per the reference below, stay on the safe side: substitute the British idiom: In a donkey's years.
Now, check out Sandra Mitchell's post today on that expression (and several others).
* * * * * *
https://www.straightdope.com/
What’s the origin of “coon’s age”? - The Straight Dope
It actually refers to raccoons. The expression “in a coon’s age” dates to the early 1800s, and to the folk belief that raccoons are long-lived. ... average, probably 2-3 years ...
... applied to black people ... first used in the 1850s ... for that reason, "in a coon’s age” makes many people uncomfortable, notwithstanding its innocent origin.
A few years back, a woman I was friendly with in the locker room of the gym (not that kind of friendly) came in from her swim, flustered. Sally told me she'd encountered a fellow at the pool, whom she hadn't seen in months.
She greeted him with these words:
"Hello, Jim! I haven't seen you in a 'coons age."
Jim nodded curtly, then walked away.
It was then Sally realized: Jim, who is black, had taken 'coon -- short for raccoon -- as a racial slur.
Per the reference below, stay on the safe side: substitute the British idiom: In a donkey's years.
Now, check out Sandra Mitchell's post today on that expression (and several others).
* * * * * *
https://www.straightdope.com/
What’s the origin of “coon’s age”? - The Straight Dope
She greeted him with these words:
"Hello, Jim! I haven't seen you in a 'coons age."
Jim nodded curtly, then walked away.
It was then Sally realized: Jim, who is black, had taken 'coon -- short for raccoon -- as a racial slur.
Per the reference below, stay on the safe side: substitute the British idiom: In a donkey's years.
Now, check out Sandra Mitchell's post today on that expression (and several others).
* * * * * *
https://www.straightdope.com/
What’s the origin of “coon’s age”? - The Straight Dope
It actually refers to raccoons. The expression “in a coon’s age” dates to the early 1800s, and to the folk belief that raccoons are long-lived. ... average, probably 2-3 years ...
... applied to black people ... first used in the 1850s ... for that reason, "in a coon’s age” makes many people uncomfortable, notwithstanding its innocent origin.
 Recognized |
#27 December 2021 |
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