Buzz
Many seemingly harmless idioms in the English language have surprising beginnings. While some, like silver lining and tomfoolery, stem from benign origins, others are tied to the most troubling periods of U.S. history. Though these phrases are no longer used in their original contexts, understanding their racist backgrounds offers a new perspective on their usage.
1. Breaking Point
This widely used expression refers to the moment when a potential change becomes unavoidable. According to Merriam-Webster, it gained prominence in the 1950s in connection with white flight, as white residents left cities for suburban areas en masse. Journalists at the time used tipping point to describe the threshold of non-white neighbors that prompted this exodus. Though the term dates back to the 19th century, it became part of everyday language during this era due to its association with this social phenomenon.
2. Long Time, No See
The phrase long time, no see dates back to the 19th century. A 1894 article in the Boston Sunday Globe attributed the phrase to a Native American speaker. It was also used in William F. Drannan’s 1899 book, Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West, to mimic stereotypical Native American speech patterns.
It’s improbable that Native Americans actually used long time, no see during this period. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that such isolating constructions were uncommon in indigenous North American languages. Instead, the phrase emerged as a way for white writers to caricature Native American speech and that of non-native English speakers, such as those from China. By the 1920s, it had become a common expression in American English.
3. Mumbo Jumbo
Originally tied to West African religious practices, the term mumbo jumbo referred to a masked dancer in Mandinka ceremonies. Francis Moore, a former Royal African Company clerk, recorded the term as mumbo jumbo in his 1738 book, Travels into the Inland Parts of Africa. By the early 1800s, English speakers began using the phrase to describe anything they found confusing or nonsensical, severing its connection to its African roots.
4. Sold Down the River
The expression sold down the river originally referred to the practice of selling enslaved individuals from northern regions to plantations in the Deep South via the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. For those enslaved, this phrase symbolized betrayal, family separation, and the harsh realities of forced labor. A journal entry from April 1835 recounts a tragic incident where a person, facing this fate, attempted self-harm and ultimately drowned to escape the unbearable future.
5. No Can Do
Much like long time, no see, the phrase no can do began as a mocking imitation of non-native English speakers, particularly Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century. While it is now commonly used to mean “I can’t do that,” its offensive origins are often overlooked.
6. Indian Giver
Merriam-Webster describes an Indian giver as someone who gives a gift and then reclaims it. The term first appeared in Thomas Hutchinson’s History of the Colony of Massachuset’s Bay in the mid 18th century, where it was noted that “An Indian gift is a proverbial expression, signifying a present for which an equivalent return is expected.” By the 19th century, the term shifted focus from the gift to the giver, losing its original meaning and becoming a derogatory label. An 1838 article in the N.-Y. Mirror referenced this phrase, describing it as a behavior observed among schoolchildren.
Although the stereotype about Indigenous people has diminished, the phrase Indian giver remains in use today. The term Indian in this context also implies something deceptive, similar to its use in the outdated expression Indian summer.
7. Cakewalk
In the pre-Civil War South, enslaved Black Americans would sometimes dress up and perform dances on Sundays, subtly mocking the white elite. Unaware they were the target of ridicule, enslavers encouraged these performances and rewarded the best dancers with cake, giving rise to the term.
Over time, the term cakewalk came to signify something effortless, likely due to its association with a leisurely activity. The tradition continued post-slavery, with cakewalks remaining a part of Black American culture. However, white performers in blackface appropriated the act for minstrel shows, transforming a satirical critique of white society into a racist portrayal of Black people.
