Quizzes & Puzzles1 min ago
passing time
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where does the saying 'Passing the time of day' originate?
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The phrase, meaning 'to exchange greetings/gossip', first appeared in print in the 1830s. An American author wrote: "Two Indians halted within a few rods of us, stared a moment and then civilly passed the time of day."
Presumably, they said, 'How', which is the anglicised version of a Sioux Indian word 'hao', meaning 'good'. This is just part of their greeting ''hao kola', meaning 'all is well, friend'.
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