And He Speaks So Highly Of You

[twiggy55]

Does anyone know where/when this phrase was first used?

Diane

[heathfield]

The word 'highly' in its present meaning is recorded in Old English as far back as 900 AD, so I wouldn't be surprised if the phrase itself is just as old.

[Quizmonster]

The earliest recorded use of the word highly attached to the verb speak in this way is in Thomas Macaulay's 'Historyof England' published in 1849. Of course, as H says above, "to speak highly of" may have been used many times before that in speech.

[twiggy55]

I was thinking more of when it was first used as a sarcastic/cheeky reply when someone has been speaking badly about someone.

I was asking because I had occasion to use the phrase twice yesterday and I wondered where I'd got it from.

Diane

[jno]

I first heard it in 1970.