In Hamlet, II.i.43, Polonius says to Reynaldo, “Marry, sir, here’s my drift,” before clarifying, insofar as Polonius ever clarifies anything, how exactly Reynaldo should spy on Laertes.
Darrell Bird:
May 5th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Odysseus (as a mariner/captain)uses the phrase in Homer’s “Odyssey”, circa eighth century BC. Of course, the translation from Greek to English would date the English phrase, but it’s interesting that Homer would use that phrase (with the same meaning)in Greek centuries earlier.
Brendan Hareshvara Quinn:
November 18th, 2011 at 2:48 am
I just found this website by chance and already love it. Language and linguistics are passions of mine, especially etymology. I happen to have studied Greek (and Latin and Sanskrit) which led me to the endlessly interesting pastime of tracking down the origins of words, concepts, and even belief-systems (comparative mythology, i guess). I would love love love to track down the citation of this usage in the Odyssey! Darrell, if you could just tell me the translation, book and line number (the line number doesn’t have to be exact b/c many translations give only vague guides to this), I would love to see what the original Greek was for the rendering of “catch my drift” . . . sure hope you “catch” this reply!! pax, b
Max:
July 10th, 2019 at 11:00 am
A drift is part of the blacksmithing process where a pin is hammered into a formed, forged hole (as in a hinge hole which will accommodate a hinge-pin). With the iron still hot, this pin is hammered into the formed hole, and then once cooled, the pin is hammered through and out of the hole. This pin is usually caught or retrieved by a blacksmith’s apprentice. Thus, the specific phrase “catch my drift” could well come from this process.
Lexington Dinglebottom:
March 26th, 2020 at 10:32 pm
A drift is also a sharpened metal point in blacksmithing that is hammered through not just your object you’re working but the anvil itself out of the hardy hole. You cannot catch your own drift, someone else has to, and so in all smiths since the dawn of time your drift clatters to the floor fouling the end and needing redrawing after from time immemorial. I would say catching ones drift would be a smithy apprentice in tune with his master so well that he catches his drift before it hits the floor as a potential origin overlooked by my less trade gifted colleagues here.
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Elizabeth Lightwood:
March 18th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
In Hamlet, II.i.43, Polonius says to Reynaldo, “Marry, sir, here’s my drift,” before clarifying, insofar as Polonius ever clarifies anything, how exactly Reynaldo should spy on Laertes.
Darrell Bird:
May 5th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Odysseus (as a mariner/captain)uses the phrase in Homer’s “Odyssey”, circa eighth century BC. Of course, the translation from Greek to English would date the English phrase, but it’s interesting that Homer would use that phrase (with the same meaning)in Greek centuries earlier.
Brendan Hareshvara Quinn:
November 18th, 2011 at 2:48 am
I just found this website by chance and already love it. Language and linguistics are passions of mine, especially etymology. I happen to have studied Greek (and Latin and Sanskrit) which led me to the endlessly interesting pastime of tracking down the origins of words, concepts, and even belief-systems (comparative mythology, i guess). I would love love love to track down the citation of this usage in the Odyssey! Darrell, if you could just tell me the translation, book and line number (the line number doesn’t have to be exact b/c many translations give only vague guides to this), I would love to see what the original Greek was for the rendering of “catch my drift” . . . sure hope you “catch” this reply!! pax, b
Max:
July 10th, 2019 at 11:00 am
A drift is part of the blacksmithing process where a pin is hammered into a formed, forged hole (as in a hinge hole which will accommodate a hinge-pin). With the iron still hot, this pin is hammered into the formed hole, and then once cooled, the pin is hammered through and out of the hole. This pin is usually caught or retrieved by a blacksmith’s apprentice. Thus, the specific phrase “catch my drift” could well come from this process.
Lexington Dinglebottom:
March 26th, 2020 at 10:32 pm
A drift is also a sharpened metal point in blacksmithing that is hammered through not just your object you’re working but the anvil itself out of the hardy hole. You cannot catch your own drift, someone else has to, and so in all smiths since the dawn of time your drift clatters to the floor fouling the end and needing redrawing after from time immemorial. I would say catching ones drift would be a smithy apprentice in tune with his master so well that he catches his drift before it hits the floor as a potential origin overlooked by my less trade gifted colleagues here.