Origin of expression 'at the double'
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6
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Me maw used to say to me 'at the double', meaning for me to come as quick as possible. Just wondering today: what was the origin of this saying? It seems to me that the words don't apply to anything really specifically, so can some one provide a feasible explanation?
meaning etymology
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
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up vote
6
down vote
favorite
Me maw used to say to me 'at the double', meaning for me to come as quick as possible. Just wondering today: what was the origin of this saying? It seems to me that the words don't apply to anything really specifically, so can some one provide a feasible explanation?
meaning etymology
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
8
I've heard "ON the double" in this context, but never "AT the double". (Same usage and likely military origin, though)
– BradC
Jun 22 '11 at 13:53
I've never heard "on the double" at all. Is it US?
– Colin Fine
Jun 22 '11 at 14:18
@Colin: It must be. I'm a Statesian and I've never heard "at the double".
– user362
Jun 22 '11 at 14:30
I've heard "on the double", but not "me maw" :)
– horatio
Jun 22 '11 at 19:56
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
Me maw used to say to me 'at the double', meaning for me to come as quick as possible. Just wondering today: what was the origin of this saying? It seems to me that the words don't apply to anything really specifically, so can some one provide a feasible explanation?
meaning etymology
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
Me maw used to say to me 'at the double', meaning for me to come as quick as possible. Just wondering today: what was the origin of this saying? It seems to me that the words don't apply to anything really specifically, so can some one provide a feasible explanation?
meaning etymology
meaning etymology
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
edited 32 mins ago
Eddie Kal
468217
468217
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
asked Jun 22 '11 at 13:22
Thursagen
35k38144214
35k38144214
8
I've heard "ON the double" in this context, but never "AT the double". (Same usage and likely military origin, though)
– BradC
Jun 22 '11 at 13:53
I've never heard "on the double" at all. Is it US?
– Colin Fine
Jun 22 '11 at 14:18
@Colin: It must be. I'm a Statesian and I've never heard "at the double".
– user362
Jun 22 '11 at 14:30
I've heard "on the double", but not "me maw" :)
– horatio
Jun 22 '11 at 19:56
add a comment |
8
I've heard "ON the double" in this context, but never "AT the double". (Same usage and likely military origin, though)
– BradC
Jun 22 '11 at 13:53
I've never heard "on the double" at all. Is it US?
– Colin Fine
Jun 22 '11 at 14:18
@Colin: It must be. I'm a Statesian and I've never heard "at the double".
– user362
Jun 22 '11 at 14:30
I've heard "on the double", but not "me maw" :)
– horatio
Jun 22 '11 at 19:56
8
8
I've heard "ON the double" in this context, but never "AT the double". (Same usage and likely military origin, though)
– BradC
Jun 22 '11 at 13:53
I've heard "ON the double" in this context, but never "AT the double". (Same usage and likely military origin, though)
– BradC
Jun 22 '11 at 13:53
I've never heard "on the double" at all. Is it US?
– Colin Fine
Jun 22 '11 at 14:18
I've never heard "on the double" at all. Is it US?
– Colin Fine
Jun 22 '11 at 14:18
@Colin: It must be. I'm a Statesian and I've never heard "at the double".
– user362
Jun 22 '11 at 14:30
@Colin: It must be. I'm a Statesian and I've never heard "at the double".
– user362
Jun 22 '11 at 14:30
I've heard "on the double", but not "me maw" :)
– horatio
Jun 22 '11 at 19:56
I've heard "on the double", but not "me maw" :)
– horatio
Jun 22 '11 at 19:56
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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up vote
7
down vote
accepted
Just two points Ham and Bacon didn't make clear: double time (the command is "At the double" in the British Army and "On the double" in the American) is literally twice the speed of a normal march, so 72 paces a minute (Britsih Light Infantry pace and I believe also the norm in the USMC) becomes 144, which is pretty much a run. And it's not 'would give the command': the practice continues, and probably will as long as armed forces remain in being, so it's 'gives' or maybe 'will give'.
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
1
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
add a comment |
up vote
0
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I was reading about gut strings for violins and various other stringed instuments and how they are made and saw this: "Once a group of five or so sets are stripped they are bunched and knotted in the center. This is known as handling the casing "on the double", that is, at the center. Such an arrangement makes it easier to handle the thirty yards of length and eases the strain on the material."
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
add a comment |
protected by RegDwigнt♦ Mar 11 '14 at 3:20
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
Just two points Ham and Bacon didn't make clear: double time (the command is "At the double" in the British Army and "On the double" in the American) is literally twice the speed of a normal march, so 72 paces a minute (Britsih Light Infantry pace and I believe also the norm in the USMC) becomes 144, which is pretty much a run. And it's not 'would give the command': the practice continues, and probably will as long as armed forces remain in being, so it's 'gives' or maybe 'will give'.
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
1
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
Just two points Ham and Bacon didn't make clear: double time (the command is "At the double" in the British Army and "On the double" in the American) is literally twice the speed of a normal march, so 72 paces a minute (Britsih Light Infantry pace and I believe also the norm in the USMC) becomes 144, which is pretty much a run. And it's not 'would give the command': the practice continues, and probably will as long as armed forces remain in being, so it's 'gives' or maybe 'will give'.
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
1
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
Just two points Ham and Bacon didn't make clear: double time (the command is "At the double" in the British Army and "On the double" in the American) is literally twice the speed of a normal march, so 72 paces a minute (Britsih Light Infantry pace and I believe also the norm in the USMC) becomes 144, which is pretty much a run. And it's not 'would give the command': the practice continues, and probably will as long as armed forces remain in being, so it's 'gives' or maybe 'will give'.
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
Just two points Ham and Bacon didn't make clear: double time (the command is "At the double" in the British Army and "On the double" in the American) is literally twice the speed of a normal march, so 72 paces a minute (Britsih Light Infantry pace and I believe also the norm in the USMC) becomes 144, which is pretty much a run. And it's not 'would give the command': the practice continues, and probably will as long as armed forces remain in being, so it's 'gives' or maybe 'will give'.
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
answered Jun 22 '11 at 19:45
TimLymington
32.4k775142
32.4k775142
1
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
add a comment |
1
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
1
1
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
I looks as though you're complementing an answer that no longer exists. I wonder what was in it.
– Jacinto
Sep 19 '15 at 21:24
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I was reading about gut strings for violins and various other stringed instuments and how they are made and saw this: "Once a group of five or so sets are stripped they are bunched and knotted in the center. This is known as handling the casing "on the double", that is, at the center. Such an arrangement makes it easier to handle the thirty yards of length and eases the strain on the material."
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
I was reading about gut strings for violins and various other stringed instuments and how they are made and saw this: "Once a group of five or so sets are stripped they are bunched and knotted in the center. This is known as handling the casing "on the double", that is, at the center. Such an arrangement makes it easier to handle the thirty yards of length and eases the strain on the material."
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I was reading about gut strings for violins and various other stringed instuments and how they are made and saw this: "Once a group of five or so sets are stripped they are bunched and knotted in the center. This is known as handling the casing "on the double", that is, at the center. Such an arrangement makes it easier to handle the thirty yards of length and eases the strain on the material."
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
I was reading about gut strings for violins and various other stringed instuments and how they are made and saw this: "Once a group of five or so sets are stripped they are bunched and knotted in the center. This is known as handling the casing "on the double", that is, at the center. Such an arrangement makes it easier to handle the thirty yards of length and eases the strain on the material."
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
answered Jun 2 '13 at 2:29
user45296
1
1
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by RegDwigнt♦ Mar 11 '14 at 3:20
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
8
I've heard "ON the double" in this context, but never "AT the double". (Same usage and likely military origin, though)
– BradC
Jun 22 '11 at 13:53
I've never heard "on the double" at all. Is it US?
– Colin Fine
Jun 22 '11 at 14:18
@Colin: It must be. I'm a Statesian and I've never heard "at the double".
– user362
Jun 22 '11 at 14:30
I've heard "on the double", but not "me maw" :)
– horatio
Jun 22 '11 at 19:56