Off with the old, on with the new

Posted by Steve E on May 18, 2005

In Reply to: Off with the old, on with the new posted by Victoria S Dennis on May 17, 2005

: : Does anyone know where this idiom comes from? And what do "the old" and "the new" refer to?

: : I don't know the absolute origin but there is an old (i.e. first printed in 1835 buit already traditional) folk song that goes:
: It is good to be merry and wise,
: It is good to be honest and true,
: it is best to be off with the old love
: before you are on with the new.

I know this phrase as: "Out with the old and in with the new"