Harken

Posted by ESC on June 25, 2004

In Reply to: Hark posted by Lotg on June 25, 2004

: : : Weirdly, I have just seen both in print. Does anyone know?

: : Hark back and harp on.

: I've never heard 'harp' back before in this context. Besides I thought to 'harp' on something was pretty much to go on about it, nag about it, etc.

: Wherease to 'hark back' is to go back to something which seems more relevant here. So I check out Merriam-Webster and it says this:

: 1 : to turn back to an earlier topic or circumstance
: 2 : to go back to something as an origin or source

: So I'm going with the 'hark' option here, partly cos that's the one I'm familiar with and partly cos of the definition of the term 'hark back'.

: I suppose someone could be accused of 'harping' back, like I'm doing now - ie. going on and on about it - but I don't believe that's the original saying.

: So - Vote 1 - Hark. (for me anyway)

Then there's "harken back to yesteryear." Was that ever an introduction to a TV program?

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