Pet Peeves
Where did the expression “pet peeve” come from?
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Unpacking English, Bit by Bit
A community for questioning, nitpicking, and debating the quirks and rules of the English language.
Where did the expression “pet peeve” come from?
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Most dictionaries define "peeve" as an "annoyance." "Pet" would refer to something that is a favorite of yours (think about the phrase "teacher's pet."). It's meant ironically in this case to mean the same sort of thing as holding a grudge.
The non-idiomatic meaning of the phrase would be something like "favorite complaint." You wouldn't use it for everything--just for something that PARTICULARLY bothers you.
I'm vaguely guessing from the special way the word "pet" is used that the phrase dates from around 1800 or a bit later. Anyone know for sure?
speedwell2 Mar-12-2004
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