Orgins of "keyed up" and "keeping my nose clean"?
December 21, 2006 8:40 PM Subscribe
What are the origins of the terms: "keyed up" and "keeping my nose clean"?
A friend of mine claims these terms are related to coke use, but I can't find evidence of this on the web. Prove my friend wrong & he buys me a beer. Help me-
A friend of mine claims these terms are related to coke use, but I can't find evidence of this on the web. Prove my friend wrong & he buys me a beer. Help me-
Keep Your Nose Clean
Keep your nose clean is an Americanism dating to 1887. It is almost certainly a metaphorical reference to a child maintaining proper hygiene in polite company, in particular children with runny noses. One is expected by be on good behavior and presentable just as a child is among adults.
(Sources: Oxford English Dictionary Online and the Historical Dictionary of American Slang)
posted by seymour.skinner at 8:59 PM on December 21, 2006
Keep your nose clean is an Americanism dating to 1887. It is almost certainly a metaphorical reference to a child maintaining proper hygiene in polite company, in particular children with runny noses. One is expected by be on good behavior and presentable just as a child is among adults.
(Sources: Oxford English Dictionary Online and the Historical Dictionary of American Slang)
posted by seymour.skinner at 8:59 PM on December 21, 2006
"Keep your nose clean" means wipe/blow your nose and originates from the late 1800's according to the OED.
"Keyed up" is another way of saying wound up, as in a clock.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:03 PM on December 21, 2006
"Keyed up" is another way of saying wound up, as in a clock.
posted by Pollomacho at 9:03 PM on December 21, 2006
"keyed up" is from music.
OED says:
3. a. To regulate the pitch of the strings of a musical instrument. Hence fig.: To give a certain tone or intensity (to feelings, thoughts); to key up, to stimulate, to raise to a high pitch; also, to render (someone) nervous or tense, freq. as keyed-up ppl. adj.; so to key down: to lower in pitch or intensity.
posted by vacapinta at 9:04 PM on December 21, 2006
OED says:
3. a. To regulate the pitch of the strings of a musical instrument. Hence fig.: To give a certain tone or intensity (to feelings, thoughts); to key up, to stimulate, to raise to a high pitch; also, to render (someone) nervous or tense, freq. as keyed-up ppl. adj.; so to key down: to lower in pitch or intensity.
posted by vacapinta at 9:04 PM on December 21, 2006
many a cokehead has mentioned to me that they are keyed up. whether this is because they are wound up from doing the coke or using a key to get the coke to their nose, i am not sure. im allergic to the stuff.
posted by fumbducker at 6:35 AM on December 22, 2006
posted by fumbducker at 6:35 AM on December 22, 2006
Seymour, when you copy text off the Internet, you should link to it. Like this:
Keey your nose clean.
Dave Wilton does good work and he deserves credit for it.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:41 AM on December 22, 2006
Keey your nose clean.
Dave Wilton does good work and he deserves credit for it.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:41 AM on December 22, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
Keyed up
Neither seem to have roots intersecting with Bolivian Marching Powder.
posted by birdherder at 8:59 PM on December 21, 2006