Comments on: Bald Faced vs. Bold Faced http://blog.blueion.com/2008/09/23/bald-faced-vs-bold-faced/ Life daily... Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:40:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Matt http://blog.blueion.com/2008/09/23/bald-faced-vs-bold-faced/comment-page-1/#comment-4986 Matt Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:58:28 +0000 http://blog.blueion.com/?p=1022#comment-4986 I disagree with Wayne too. Making up the etymology of a word is simple enough, I've yet to see any credible source on which term was used first. The idea that a "bald-faced" liar is more correct because people used it to mean that "he can lie well without a beard" is no better than the idea that "bold-faced" is right because it means "lying boldly." It seems that the idea with more (unsourced) google hits supporting it becomes the de-facto reality... and who wouldn't want to propagate a quaint etymology like "bald-faced?" And eggcorn.com is a great example of a blog endorsing unproven etymologies. I just read on there about "bran-new" being an incorrect spelling of "brand-new" without a single source to back it up. Well I just finished reading Dickens' Little Dorritt from 1857 and he uses "bran-new." I disagree with Wayne too. Making up the etymology of a word is simple enough, I’ve yet to see any credible source on which term was used first.

The idea that a “bald-faced” liar is more correct because people used it to mean that “he can lie well without a beard” is no better than the idea that “bold-faced” is right because it means “lying boldly.”

It seems that the idea with more (unsourced) google hits supporting it becomes the de-facto reality… and who wouldn’t want to propagate a quaint etymology like “bald-faced?”

And eggcorn.com is a great example of a blog endorsing unproven etymologies. I just read on there about “bran-new” being an incorrect spelling of “brand-new” without a single source to back it up. Well I just finished reading Dickens’ Little Dorritt from 1857 and he uses “bran-new.”

]]> By: Suzanne http://blog.blueion.com/2008/09/23/bald-faced-vs-bold-faced/comment-page-1/#comment-4513 Suzanne Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:54:17 +0000 http://blog.blueion.com/?p=1022#comment-4513 I think Wayne has it backwards. What is his source? I believe bold face is correct same as Robert says. I get it from reading old, gramically correct books. I think Wayne has it backwards. What is his source? I believe bold face is correct same as Robert says. I get it from reading old, gramically correct books.

]]> By: Wayne http://blog.blueion.com/2008/09/23/bald-faced-vs-bold-faced/comment-page-1/#comment-3482 Wayne Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:33:21 +0000 http://blog.blueion.com/?p=1022#comment-3482 The original phrase was "bare-faced," which evolved into "bald-faced." The idea was that just as the beard can hide the face, a "bald-faced lie" was one that someone made no attempt to conceal. In modern times, it has taken a further devolution into "bold-faced," as some people have not been familiar with the phrase and took it to be similar to our current means of emphasizing something in print by putting it in "bold-face" type. The original phrase was “bare-faced,” which evolved into “bald-faced.” The idea was that just as the beard can hide the face, a “bald-faced lie” was one that someone made no attempt to conceal. In modern times, it has taken a further devolution into “bold-faced,” as some people have not been familiar with the phrase and took it to be similar to our current means of emphasizing something in print by putting it in “bold-face” type.

]]> By: James http://blog.blueion.com/2008/09/23/bald-faced-vs-bold-faced/comment-page-1/#comment-3130 James Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:09:49 +0000 http://blog.blueion.com/?p=1022#comment-3130 they's wikipedians are bein' just crazy. i learned all my speakin' from the internet, and just look how good i is! they’s wikipedians are bein’ just crazy.
i learned all my speakin’ from the internet, and just look how good i is!

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