phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

Beat the rush

Posted by Kit on September 04, 2003

In Reply to: Beat the rush posted by Bill on September 03, 2003

: I saw a program the other night on The History Channel that stated the phrase "beat the rush" was coined in reference to the revenue clipper ship USS Rush which operated in Alaskan waters in the mid-1800's. Evidently, the locals would attempt to surreptitiously sell undeclared pelts before the ship sailed into their region, thus "beating the Rush." Does anyone have knowledge of this origin, either way?
: It sounds a little too convenient to me.

Sounds a bit fishy to me! I always understood 'beat the rush' as literally just that, for example getting home early to avoid the 'rush-hour' of traffic, or purchasing something before everyone else 'rushed to get it'. Perhaps i'm over-simplifyimg the phrase and its origin.

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.