Beware of falling pineapples

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on September 07, 2005

In Reply to: Beware of falling pineapples posted by ESC on September 07, 2005

: : : Where does this phrase come from, and what does it mean?

: : This is a wild guess. I went on a tour of an historic home in Frankfort, Ky. One of the four-poster beds had pineapples on each post. A pineapple, the guide said, was a symbol of hospitality. A guest overstayed his welcome and his hostess removed the pineapples from the bed. Maybe the phrase has something to do with that. Or not.

: Good grief. I googled and found I'd told this story before. www.phrases.org.uk bulletin_board 14 messages 383.html

I'd just like to point out that guides to historic houses (in any country) are among the most notorious purveyors of junk etymology, and therefore any story told by a historic house guide should be regarded with deep suspicion unless borne out by a reliable source. (VSD)