What's the history of 'stick to your knitting'?

About this item

Title

What's the history of 'stick to your knitting'?

Content partner

Radio New Zealand

Collection

Radio New Zealand YouTube

Description

An Auckland University linguist says the expression "stick to your knitting" can be traced back at least 150 years, but he probably will not be using it again. Dr Keith Montgomery from Auckland University's linguistics department says the idiom has morphed to mean stick with what you know, but would have originally literally meant stick to your knitting. Lisa Owen asked him if he thought the expression was derogatory.

Format

Video

Date created

10 June 2020

URL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaQZ3gX988o&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Related subjects

RNZ / Radio NZ / Radio New Zealand

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