Well put

Posted by Bob on November 15, 2005

In Reply to: GET LOST IN A BOOK posted by Victoria S Dennis on November 14, 2005

: : DRPEGGY@COMCAST.NET

: : question: I NEED TO FIND THE ORIGIN OF THE PHRASE "GET LOST IN A BOOK" IT IS A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.
: I don't think it has a discoverable origin. It's one of those obvious, natural metaphors; when somebody's attention is wholly taken up by something we talk of them being "lost" in contemplation, a reverie, self-pity, grief, whatever. And everybody who loves reading knows how easy it is to get "lost" in a book. However far you tracked this expression back, I don't think you could ever say confidently that the earliest use of it you could find was the first time it had ever been used.

What a gem of an answer. A polished jewel of common sense.

• Well put Steve E 16/November/05