Bless your socks off

[Dennis R. Preston]

>I have used "verb+possessive pronoun+socks" off my entire life, and
>I suspect it is that "frame" which is productive. I confess never
>having used the verb "bless" before in this context. My tendancy
>(and the one I learned I am rather sure) has been for more "active"
>verbs - work, beat, others I won't bother to mention.

dInIs (working his danged socks off here in the cold of MI)


>An inquiry has come from a Chinese Malaysian friend in Panang asking
>the origin and meaning of "bless your socks off". I hear
>it often and assume it to be a superlative for "blessings" but have
>no idea other than that!
>
>Answers to the ADS-L would be appreciated as I do not have any of
>the reference works you folks use (just a lurker enjoying
>your company and learning).
>
>Sharyn Hay storkrn at msn.com

--
Dennis R. Preston
Department of Linguistics and Languages
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1027 USA
preston at pilot.msu.edu
Office: (517)353-0740
Fax: (517)432-2736