"to FALL pregnant" - why say FALL?

[joko]

Why do we say FALL or FELL pregnant?

We say fall ill or fallen idol etc, in a negative way.

I always feel it makes it sound as though its a sad thing rather that a joyous occasion.

does it have any other meaning?

[Quizmonster]

This phrase has been in use since the early 1700s, so it has a long history. It's not so very different from the way in which we say "fall asleep", really. It merely suggests a transference into another state.

[Pythia]

Don't forget, we also fall in love

[mimififi]

I thought to "fall pregnant" was another hilariously rude reference that the rich tapestry of our Literary heritage has left us, i.e, to fall down, on your back and become pregnant?  As in Romeoa and Juliet, the rude joke made about Juliet as a tiny to falling over on her face at which her father remarks: when she is older, she'll have the sense to fall on her back.

I oculd be wrong, probably am.

[Peter Pedant]

Pregnant women also use an ellipsis (cutting out words) and just say 'fall'

as in when did you fall ?

or - how did you fall ? (rather obvious answer I would have thought) - and this caused howls of derision from er other women, way back in the late seventies.

[HeratthePC]

I'm Irish and had never heard this expression till moving to England three years ago. I was terribly amused when I first heard it, as it seemed to imply that the person had been impregnated passively, through no action of their own. Getting pregnant - it's like falling off a log.

[Zeuhl]

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question151960.html

from 2005

[Zeuhl]

And fall ill

[Hyacynth68]

This expression appeared in general use about 20 years ago or less. I had never heard it until recently. I find it to be rather absurd ! In the same way that "passed over" or "past" has come into use recently l. I was surprised to hear young people use this term. It was generally confined to use by either undertakers or spiritualist mediums until lately. A rather silly euphemism for a very simple word imho. "falling pregnant" conjures up all sorts of hilarious images so uneccesarily !