More adventures in anachronistic phrases

A few months ago I wrote about the dangers of anachronistic phrases. Specifically, you shouldn't hear Biblical or Shakespearean sayings from characters in the Classical world. I have to be on the look out for such evil.

Here's another one: to follow suit, meaning to copy someone's actions. Playing cards haven't been invented yet. Spotted that in revisions. Aaarrgghh!

4 comments:

Barrie said...

Good for you for spotting that! Aren't revisions a lot to juggle?

Mimzy said...

Ouch. Another everyday phrase denied to you. I'll admit I never would have realized it was wrong. I don't know where most of our phrases have come from!

D.A. Riser said...

Cards is a good one. Another that exasperates me as I read is the use of currency when it hadn't yet been invented.

Anonymous said...

I am so thankful I'm not trying to stay true to any sort of time period. I have enough trouble keeping track of the one I live in.