Preaching to the choir

Posted by ESC on September 02, 2005

In Reply to: Preaching to the choir posted by Lynn on September 02, 2005

: The phrase "preaching to the choir" seems relatively new to me. I am 50 years old and from NYC. When I was growing up, we would say, "you are preaching to the converted" which, to me, makes much more sense. Did this phrase somehow get changed over the years? Does anyone know about this?

: Also, the most annoying phrase to me is: "I COULD care less! This makes absolutely no sense. The actual phrase is: "I COULDN"T care less" meaning... that you care SO LITTLE that you couldn't possibly care any less! If you "could care less" than that means that you could actually care about something less than you do.

I think it's probably changed:
PREACH TO THE CONVERTED (THE CHOIR) - Propound an argument to people who already support it. Thus in 1867 John Stuart Mill wrote in one of his many books: 'Dr. McCosh is preaching not only to a person already converted, but to an actual missionary of the same doctrine." From The Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).

It doesn't say that Mr. Mill was the first to use that expression.

• Preaching to the choir Steve E 02/September/05
  • Preaching to the choir Bob 02/September/05
    • Preaching to the choir Smokey Stover 03/September/05