Comments on: Hell in a Handbasket http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Gary Harris http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-58744 Gary Harris Mon, 18 Mar 2013 01:30:56 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-58744 I picture a wealthy Roman Senator being carried down the street in a basket. One man on each of the four corners. The ride is smooth, the curtains are drawn. The Senator is oblivious to the rough road, oblivious to the rubbish,mess,choas around him and the distress and anger of his fellow citizens. He is going to hell in a hand basket and he does not know it. I picture a wealthy Roman Senator being carried down the street in a basket. One man on each of the four corners. The ride is smooth, the curtains are drawn. The Senator is oblivious to the rough road, oblivious to the rubbish,mess,choas around him and the distress and anger of his fellow citizens. He is going to hell in a hand basket and he does not know it.

]]> By: Jim Ward http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-56523 Jim Ward Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:43:28 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-56523 An imperialist is one bent on empire, not power. An imperialist is one bent on empire, not power.

]]> By: Don http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-45665 Don Sun, 18 Nov 2012 01:35:59 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-45665 There was a book labelled Book of Origins that indicated the phrase "Hell in a handbasket" referred to the gold rush of 1949 where men were lowered by hand in baskets down mining shafts to set dynamite. If there was a probelm or they did not get out quick enough, it was referred to as going to Hell in a handbasket. Anyway, it seems like another alternative to the phrase. There was a book labelled Book of Origins that indicated the phrase “Hell in a handbasket” referred to the gold rush of 1949 where men were lowered by hand in baskets down mining shafts to set dynamite. If there was a probelm or they did not get out quick enough, it was referred to as going to Hell in a handbasket. Anyway, it seems like another alternative to the phrase.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-43677 Jordan Wed, 03 Oct 2012 04:50:09 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-43677 I am looking for the real origin. I know it is not an American phrase do to the fact that in the bible writen it is spoken a few times and the fact that the phrase has circled threw out egypt as far back as when Cleopatra had to flee Egypt for the last time she put her baby in it with a parchment that said to the underworld in a babybasket, but even then the saying was not new. It is rumored to be far older than that. I want to know about the true origin not what is just made up to make america greater than it really is. I am looking for the real origin. I know it is not an American phrase do to the fact that in the bible writen it is spoken a few times and the fact that the phrase has circled threw out egypt as far back as when Cleopatra had to flee Egypt for the last time she put her baby in it with a parchment that said to the underworld in a babybasket, but even then the saying was not new. It is rumored to be far older than that. I want to know about the true origin not what is just made up to make america greater than it really is.

]]> By: mrc http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-39681 mrc Fri, 18 May 2012 00:36:47 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-39681 I just love all those phrases. It is amazing how many we use every day! I just love all those phrases. It is amazing how many we use every day!

]]> By: Gerardo http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-39352 Gerardo Thu, 10 May 2012 12:35:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-39352 If “going nowhere, fast !” means wasting time and time is running out, “going to hell in an hand basket” it is the waste of time plus it’s damaging effect and lack of control. Something is deteriorating and the circumstances are helping the deterioration process. The “hand basket” is just a “vehicle” that speed up/facilitate the process of “going to hell.” A ride of sort that gives you no control on the path you are following. You should “hold on to your horses” ,“get your ducks in a row” and “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” If “going nowhere, fast !” means wasting time and time is running out, “going to hell in an hand basket” it is the waste of time plus it’s damaging effect and lack of control.
Something is deteriorating and the circumstances are helping the deterioration process.
The “hand basket” is just a “vehicle” that speed up/facilitate the process of “going to hell.”
A ride of sort that gives you no control on the path you are following.
You should “hold on to your horses” ,“get your ducks in a row” and “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”

]]> By: Brook Bullinger http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-25453 Brook Bullinger Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:57:12 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-25453 Its a metaphor for casket. Basket = Casket/coffin Its a metaphor for casket. Basket = Casket/coffin

]]> By: Tyler http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-17205 Tyler Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:27:46 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-17205 Actually, the expression, "the world is going to hell in a handbasket" referred not to the speed or ease of the journey but to the degradation/stigma of the act and the unfortunate chaos surrounding it. It does indeed derive from the handbaskets used to catch a criminal's head lopped off by a guillotine and was reflective of the uncertainty and chaos which surrounded the French Revolution when anyone could suddenly be put to death for just about anything and for seemingly no legitimate reason. It is also important to remember that having one's head cut off (ending up in a handbasket) was considered a particularly degrading and humiliating act. Actually, the expression, “the world is going to hell in a handbasket” referred not to the speed or ease of the journey but to the degradation/stigma of the act and the unfortunate chaos surrounding it.

It does indeed derive from the handbaskets used to catch a criminal’s head lopped off by a guillotine and was reflective of the uncertainty and chaos which surrounded the French Revolution when anyone could suddenly be put to death for just about anything and for seemingly no legitimate reason. It is also important to remember that having one’s head cut off (ending up in a handbasket) was considered a particularly degrading and humiliating act.

]]> By: superpipoy http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-15572 superpipoy Sat, 26 Mar 2011 16:39:06 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-15572 if that is an expression then so be it. i still can't see the resemblance of that phrase to its meaning. if that is an expression then so be it. i still can’t see the resemblance of that phrase to its meaning.

]]> By: Rhonda M. http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-4604 Rhonda M. Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:22:47 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-4604 I just heard the other day on show about mining, they were talking about that phrase originating from mining. I can't remember exactly what they said, I just caught a bit of it. It had to be on either the History channel or history international or discovery channel or Natgeo. I just heard the other day on show about mining, they were talking about that phrase originating
from mining. I can’t remember exactly what they said, I just caught a bit of it. It had to be on
either the History channel or history international or discovery channel or Natgeo.

]]> By: Jenny Atkinson http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-4433 Jenny Atkinson Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:10:54 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-4433 I wonder if the saying refers to the Mormon handcart pioneers. Leaving from Iowa City going to Salt Lake City. Particularly to the fourth and fifth companies who left in June/July 1856 and arrived in November 1856 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_handcart_pioneers I wonder if the saying refers to the Mormon handcart pioneers. Leaving from Iowa City going to Salt Lake City. Particularly to the fourth and fifth companies who left in June/July 1856 and arrived in November 1856

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_handcart_pioneers

]]> By: joey http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/hell-in-a-handbasket/comment-page-1/#comment-4068 joey Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:25:41 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/hell-in-a-handbasket/#comment-4068 hi folks, you have a newsletter? and also,can you help me with the following meaning...there's a new england saying, "they have seen the elephants & heard the hooty owl." i welcome your help. if you answer it could you direct me. thanks, joey messina hi folks,
you have a newsletter?
and also,can you help me with the following meaning…there’s a new england saying, “they have seen the elephants & heard the hooty owl.”
i welcome your help. if you answer it could you direct me.
thanks, joey messina

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