Preaching to the choir

Posted by Bob on September 02, 2005

In Reply to: Preaching to the choir posted by Steve E 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.

:
: Since the choir is always at the religious service, they always hear the preaching going on, so it would be redundant to repeat the preaching to them because they have already heard it.

President Bush's audiences are always carefully screened to include only enthusiastic supporters. He can "preach to the choir" without the slightest chance of hearing a negative word. The choir is always made up of true believers and faithful attendees; they're a comfortable audience for any speaker.

• Preaching to the choir Smokey Stover 03/September/05