Why is money always dirty?
Where do those phrases originate? FILTHY rich and DIRT poor?
Where do those phrases originate? FILTHY rich and DIRT poor?
Halcyon
Favorite Answer
One would think it's because money is in fact dirty, as nobody washes it.
However, it is much more complicated than that. "Filthy rich" has been used in the English language since 16th century and it was originally "filthy lucre," lucre being money. It originally meant rich people who have become so by dishonourable means. "Filthy rich" was used that way in America, where it was coined, from the 1920s onwards. Read more about it here:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/filthy-rich.html
"Dirt poor" has appeared in English in the 1500s. People were so poor that the floor in their houses was made of dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence the saying, "dirt poor."
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/8/messages/296.html
this link above also leads to explanation of other English sayings such as:
"Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
"It's raining cats and dogs."
and why a bride always carries a bouquet of flowers:
In the 1500s, most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor.
Nice tradition, isn't it?
Anonymous
After circulating a short time money is dirty! Filth covered with yuk! Filthy rich covered with money wallowing in it! Dirt poor with a dirt floor a peasant's hovel.
Shortstuff13
Money is always dirty until it's laundered. LOL The words filthy & dirt, are adverbs to describe monetary situations. Who knows how that all came to be. As for me, I'm neither.
Common Sense Genius
After money has been handled by thousands of people, well it is actually dirty.
?
Because we are dirty people