A TERMINOLOGICAL INEXACTITUDE

RJUKL | 22:06 Sun 03rd Jan 2010 | Phrases & Sayings

8 Answers

Does anyone know the origin of this quotation?

Ditloids

sayings

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NoMercy

Did you just Google that, Zacs..? ;-)

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RJUKL

Question Author

It is also attirbuted to Alexander Haig according to Google so I don't know who first coined this term.

Quizmonster

The Oxford English Dictionary - which invariably tries to establish the earliest use of words and phrases - credits it to Churchill in a speech to the House of Commons delivered on 22nd February 1906.

RJUKL

Question Author

Thanks for the clarification.

fredpuli47

Doubtless cunning Churchill wanted to say 'lie' and 'liar' but knew he'd be using unparliamentary language of an opponent and would be asked by the Speaker to withdraw the statement. That would explain this euphemistic circumlocution being first found recorded in Parliament.

Quizmonster

Apparently, Fred, the speech was about contracts offered to Chinese workers in South Africa and Churchill said these might not be proper. However they could not be classified as slavery "without some risk of terminological inexactitude". So, it seems it wasn't an accusation of some other MP's lying so much as a reference to an exaggeration in describing a work-situation.

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