asadok
New member
- Joined
- May 15, 2012
- Member Type
- Other
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- England
- Current Location
- England
Just worked this one out-
'Beyond the pale' means completely outside what a person or group thinks is acceptable to to say, think or do.
The origin of the idiom is easy to understand if you know that a pale is another word for a bucket, and would be used to lift water from a well. The phrase comes from the idea that the water is out of reach of the bucket- just like an idea can be out of reach for some people.
'Beyond the pale' means completely outside what a person or group thinks is acceptable to to say, think or do.
The origin of the idiom is easy to understand if you know that a pale is another word for a bucket, and would be used to lift water from a well. The phrase comes from the idea that the water is out of reach of the bucket- just like an idea can be out of reach for some people.