Comments on: Shank of the Evening http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/shank-of-the-evening/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James Griffin http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/shank-of-the-evening/comment-page-1/#comment-42323 James Griffin Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:54:54 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4843#comment-42323 "Shank of the Evening" can be found spoken in the 1959 movie classic "Compulsion". The shank of the evening in the film clearly references the "best part" of the evening, as evidenced by the surrounding dialogue in the scene indicating it isn't late at all. So this clears up its usual meaning in the late 1950's era. Why "shank"? Think "lamb shank", a prized or most sought after meat portion, i.e., the "best part" of the evening. “Shank of the Evening” can be found spoken in the 1959 movie classic “Compulsion”. The shank of the evening in the film clearly references the “best part” of the evening, as evidenced by the surrounding dialogue in the scene indicating it isn’t late at all.
So this clears up its usual meaning in the late 1950′s era.
Why “shank”? Think “lamb shank”, a prized or most sought after meat portion, i.e., the “best part” of the evening.

]]> By: Mel http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/shank-of-the-evening/comment-page-1/#comment-40654 Mel Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:59:22 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4843#comment-40654 In Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park"(1963), Corrie, the young newlywed says to her mother, "You can't leave now, Mother! It's the shank of the evening!" This is at 2 AM as the party is getting its second wind. In Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park”(1963), Corrie, the young newlywed says to her mother, “You can’t leave now, Mother! It’s the shank of the evening!” This is at 2 AM as the party is getting its second wind.

]]> By: Topi Linkala http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/shank-of-the-evening/comment-page-1/#comment-20077 Topi Linkala Sun, 03 Jul 2011 08:07:32 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4843#comment-20077 About taking a trip. In finnish we have the expression 'apostle's convoyance' for walking the distance. On the other hand we can 'take a rubber foot' when we are too tired to walk and use taxi. About taking a trip. In finnish we have the expression ‘apostle’s convoyance’ for walking the distance. On the other hand we can ‘take a rubber foot’ when we are too tired to walk and use taxi.

]]> By: Charlie N. http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/shank-of-the-evening/comment-page-1/#comment-9182 Charlie N. Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:55:58 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4843#comment-9182 I've heard "shank of the evening" off and on since I was a teen in the 1960's. It was always used to mean early in the evening when things were just getting good. This seems to fit the meaning in the song "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening." Rosemary Clooney's version was the best in my opinion, by the way. I’ve heard “shank of the evening” off and on since I was a teen in the 1960′s. It was always used to mean early in the evening when things were just getting good. This seems to fit the meaning in the song “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.” Rosemary Clooney’s version was the best in my opinion, by the way.

]]> By: Mary Funke http://www.word-detective.com/2011/05/shank-of-the-evening/comment-page-1/#comment-8041 Mary Funke Mon, 01 Nov 2010 23:42:36 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=4843#comment-8041 Just got my latest fix of Word Detective and I loved the question about "shank of the evening." I thought you might like to know, since like you I've never heard it in common conversation, that it does (sort of) appear in the lyrics of an old Rosemary Clooney song, "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening". My mother used to listen to Rosemary Clooney a lot, hence I'm familiar with the song. The chorus is: In the cool cool cool of the evening Tell 'em I'll be there In the cool cool cool of the evening You better save a chair When the party's getting a glow on Singing fills the air In the shank of the night when the doings are right You can tell 'em I'll be there Thanks for searching out all these fascinating words; I look forward to each e-mailed column! Just got my latest fix of Word Detective and I loved the question about
“shank of the evening.” I thought you might like to know, since like you
I’ve never heard it in common conversation, that it does (sort of)
appear in the lyrics of an old Rosemary Clooney song, “In the Cool,
Cool, Cool of the Evening”. My mother used to listen to Rosemary Clooney
a lot, hence I’m familiar with the song. The chorus is:

In the cool cool cool of the evening
Tell ‘em I’ll be there
In the cool cool cool of the evening
You better save a chair
When the party’s getting a glow on
Singing fills the air
In the shank of the night when the doings are right
You can tell ‘em I’ll be there

Thanks for searching out all these fascinating words; I look forward to
each e-mailed column!

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