To cotton to
Posted by James Briggs on February 15, 2003
In Reply to: To cotton to posted by ESC on February 15, 2003
: In response to a post on the archived board:
: TO COTTON TO (THING OR PERSON) ? ??it was used by Dickens (Old Curiosity Shop) more than a hundred years ago with just the present meaning, to get along with or to like a thing or person?The origin is lost, but probably referred in some manner to the readiness with which cotton adheres to a napped surface.? From 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to Song and Dance by Charles Earle Funk (Galahad Book, New York, 1993).
The saying is recorded in a play as early as 1605. Clearly the saying is a lot older.
- What's
with the ?? ESC 02/17/03
- What's with the ?? R. Berg 02/17/03