I Have Not Slept One Wink
Meaning
I have not slept at all.
Origin
The notion of getting not even a single moment’s sleep has been in the language since the 14th century. Robert Manning of Brunne, in his work Handlyng synne, 1303, records the phrase in Middle English:
“Ne mete ete, ne drank drynke, Ne slepte onely a- lepy wynke.’
In language that is a little more accessible to most readers in the 21st century we have Shakespeare’s use of the idea in Cymbeline, 1611:
PISANIO:
O gracious lady,
Since I received command to do this business
I have not slept one wink.
I have nothing to declare but my genius
Meaning
Supposedly said by Oscar Wilde at Customs Control in New York, 1882.
Origin
Wilde did visit the USA and this quotation is certainly in keeping with his style. There’s no evidence to prove conclusively that he said it though. His US tour was very successful and Wilde became quite famous there, so it is also possible that the ‘quotation’ was made up for him.
There are many quotations attributed to Wilde “I can resist everything except temptation”, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars”, etc. There’s no particular reason not to accept these attributions, as he was clearly highly adept at coining the repeatable phrase. These are a few that can’t be questioned, as they come from his published works:
“Life is much too important a thing ever to talk seriously about it.”
“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.”
“Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood.”
I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and W sweat
Meaning
A line from Sir Winston Churchill’s WWII speech on becoming prime minister of the UK in 1940.
Origin
This famous quotation comes from Sir Winston Churchill’s speech on 13th May 1940 to the UK’s House of Commons. He had recently taken over from Neville Chamberlain as the British Prime Minister.
The speech was intended to be stirring and uplifting call to arms. Churchill was aware of the public hopes that he could change the direction of the war – much in the way that ailing sports clubs hope to change their fortunes by appointing a new manager – and he wanted to make best use of that tide of feeling. He was also well aware of the difficulties ahead and, not wanting to raise false hope, he entered notes of caution and warning.
He had used the I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat line to his Cabinet colleagues earlier the same day. Part of his speech was:
“I say to the House as I said to ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering.
We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime.’
The line is often said to have given rise to another phrase, which over time has become more integrated into the language – blood, sweat and tears. That phrase predates Churchill though and had been used several times during the 19th century with allusion to the trials and tribulations of Jesus Christ.
