Meaning

Date rape

The meaning of the phrase

Rape by an acquaintance during a social engagement.

Pronunciation
Date rape

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Date rape’?

This term is of American origin. The earliest example that I have found of it in print is from The Indiana newspaper the Anderson Daily Bulletin, November 1973:

When the study commission gets to the rape laws, Wilson [Judge John Wilson Jr.] said he will propose laws dealing with various degrees of rape to distinguish “date rape from stranger rape.”

Examples of use

  • There's been so many stories of date rape in the news lately that Suzy arranged to meet her date in a busy pub.

UsageWorldwide.

From the Phrase Finder idioms collection, written by Gary Martin.

Historical trend

“Date rape” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1900–2020).

1900192019401960198020002020
  • Date rape

Sources

  1. Anderson Daily Bulletin (Indiana), November 1973 · earliest example found in print