Off with their heads!

[diamondcutter]

In Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts always shouts “Off with their heads!”. I think it means “Cut off their heads!” Am I right?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes.

It's the same construction as these common expressions:

- Out with the old year and in with the new.

- On we go!

- Up with people!

- And now, on with the show!

 

[GoesStation]

- Up with people!

What does that one mean? Where does it come from?

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, teachers.

Could we also say “Cut off with their heads”?

 

[Rover_KE]

No.

 

[diamondcutter]

Could I say that there’s no verb which is omitted in “off with their heads”?

 

[GoesStation]

Could I say that there’s no verb which is omitted in “off with their heads”?

I'm not sure about that. It could be an elided and rearranged version of "Let their heads be cut off!" I see no reason to analyze it like that, though. Just accept that certain imperative sentences don't require a verb.

 

[Tarheel]

In Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts always shouts “Off with their heads!”. I think it means “Cut off their heads!” Am I right?

I think you can use logic here. Ask yourself what makes the most sense.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, teachers.

I’d like to know if “off with their heads” was just created by the author of Alice in Wonderland or it was really used by kings or queens in history.

 

[emsr2d2]

Have a look here.

 

[Tarheel]

Mary, Queen of Scots, literally lost her head to the executioner's ax (in 1587). I don't know if anybody shouted "Off with her head!"