Re: Mutton
Dressed as Lamb
Posted by R. Berg on November
20, 2001 In Reply to: Mutton Dressed as Lamb
posted by Tim Herbert on November 20, 2001
: There is a long running
debate at my workplace as to the exact reference of the above phrase. Effectively,
there are two camps. The first believes that it is a reference to age - i.e. that
it is something much older dressed up as something much younger. The second believes
that it relates to quality - i.e. that it is something much poorer dressed up
as something much better.
: I imagine that whichever of these is correct must
hark back to the origin of the phrase. Mutton is taken from an older sheep than
a lamb. However, it is also a poorer quality of meat than lamb.
: Which was
meant originally?
: Thanks
: Tim
You can all get back to work now. It's
age, not quality.
"'mutton dressed (or dressed up) as lamb' has, since latish
C19, been directed at middle-aged and elderly women dressing in an unbecomingly
youthful fashion. Drawn from the terminology of the butcher's shop" [Eric Partridge,
"A Dictionary of Catch Phrases American and British"].
When words that express
the other meaning are needed, these might do:
"Things are seldom what they
seem,
Skim milk masquerades as cream" [W. S. Gilbert, "H.M.S. Pinafore," Act
II].
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