Origins of "to be caught dead doing sthg"?

Artful | 07:03 Mon 11th Jul 2005 | Phrases & Sayings

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It's an expression I use often "you wouldn't catch me dead doin'/wearin'/sayin' that".
And I wonder if I am wise to use it or if it means people are on the look-out "to catch me dead"?

History & myths

Sweating!

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Quizmonster

The earliest recorded example is found in a story published in 1915 by Rudyard Kipling, which contains the sentence: "'Wouldn't be found dead in Hilarity', was Winchmore's grateful reply." (I assume Hilarity here is the name of a club, theatre or whatever.)

Artful

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Thanks, QM. It's recent, isn't it? I'm surprised.

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