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"Like preaching to the quire"

Posted by Marcus on January 29, 2001

In Reply to: "Like preaching to the quire" posted by Joanne on January 29, 2001

: Can anyone tell me the origin of this phrase? Alt spelling for "quire" is "choir"
: Thanks,
: Joanne

;) a quire is 15-16th century Renaissance English for choral singers or musicians. when the preacher is preaching to the choir, he's practicing his rhetoric. they already know all that stuff or they wouldn't be there in the first place. they are dedicated to the glorious expression of faith. it's like, "tell me something I don't already know"...
okay then, don't play with matches.

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