...and then there's "bum rush"

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on January 04, 2005

In Reply to: Bum's rush posted by Smokey Stover on January 04, 2005

: : P. Krugman uses this phrase as follows: 'The people who hustled American into a tax cut to eliminate an imaginary budget surplus and a war to eliminate imaginary weapons are now trying another bum's rush.' Though there are some comments about the phrase in the archives I don't find them very helpful. Thanks for any additional help.

: Bum's rush is typically used to indicate the way you hustle someone OUT as you would a bum (down-and-outer probably trying to cadge something--money or drinks). Paul Krugman (a professor of economics at Princeton University) is emphasizing the hustle aspect, rushing the country or its poulation into something before they have time to think about it, the way you would hustle a bum out the door. I can't say I like the usage, although Krugman is a refreshingly honest and well-informed commentator for the New York Times (at the moment on vacation or hiatus). SS

There is a similar phrase that one might hear now and then, and I think it's worth mentioning at this time. It's called "bum rush" and it's a verb as in to "bum rush" the saloon on payday.

There's a link to Random House "Words at Random" where they discuss both phrases:
www.randomhouse.com

• ...and then there's "bum rush" Fred 04/January/05
  • PK? Bruce Kahl 04/January/05
    • PK? Fred 05/January/05
    • Walking Spanish ESC 04/January/05
      • Frog Marching Brian from Shawnee 05/January/05
        • PK is back Smokey Stover 05/January/05