"Rock the boat" (1908 and earlier in 1896)
Bapopik at AOL.COM
Bapopik at AOL.COM
Sun Feb 26 15:39:17 UTC 2006
OED has 1931 for "rock the boat," but it's clearly much earlier and no later
than 1908. Would you give 1896 for the political version of this phrase?
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(OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY)
d. Phrases. to take boat: to embark in a boat. to have an oar in another's
boat, in every boat, etc. (fig.): to meddle with other people's affairs, to be
a busybody. to be in the same boat (fig.): to be in the same position or
circumstances. to sail in the same boat (fig.): to pursue the same course, act
together. to miss the boat (see _MISS_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/cgi/crossref?query_type=fulltext&queryword=rock+the+boat&first=1&max_to_show=10&search_spe
c=fulltext&sort_type=alpha&search_id=VGsO-g5RxCK-2658&control_no=50024222&resu
lt_place=1&xrefword=miss&ps=v.&homonym_no=1) v.1). to rock the boat (fig.):
to disturb the equilibrium (of a situation, etc.).
1548 _HALL_ (http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h.html#hall) Chron.
(1809) 279 Duke Charles of Burgoyne..would nedes have an Ower in the Erle of
Warwickes boate. 1576 _LAMBARDE_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-l.html#lambarde) Peramb. Kent (1826) 179 Thomas Becket secretly tooke boate at
Rumney. 1577 _HOLINSHED_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h3.html#holinshed) Chron. II. 173 The pope must have his ore in everie mans bote, his
spoone in everie mans dish. 1584 _HUDSON_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h4.html#hudson) Judith iii. 352 (D.) Haue ye pain? so likewise pain haue
we; For in one boat we both imbarked be. 1668 _R. LESTRANGE_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-l.html#r-lestrange) Vis. Quev. (1708) 30
Medlers..that will have an Oar in every Boat. 1845 _DICKENS_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-d2.html#dickens) Cricket on Hearth i. 40 You'll come to the
wedding? We're in the same boat. 1857 _HUGHES_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-h4.html#hughes) Tom Brown 131 ‘But my face is all muddy’, argued
Tom. ‘Oh, we're all in one boat for that matter.’ 1921 H. CRANE Let. 17
Oct. (1965) 68 He..made me feel myself, as a poet, as being ‘in the same boat’
with him. 1931 _F. L. ALLEN_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-a.html#f-l-allen) Only Yesterday vi. 156 Unfortunate publicity had a tendency to
rock the boat. 1944 _AUDEN_
(http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-a2.html#auden) For Time Being (1945) iii. 33 Some stranger vision of the large loud
liberty violently rocking yet never, he is persuaded, finally upsetting the
jolly crowded boat. 1958 Punch 15 Jan. 111/1 The trouble with these people who
nail their colours to the The they always rock the boat.
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_http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/guysanddolls/sitdownyourerockintheboat.htm_
(http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/guysanddolls/sitdownyourerockintheboat.htm)
I dreamed last night I got on the boat to heaven
And by some chance I had brought my dice along
And there I stood
And I hollered "Someone fade me"
But the passengers, they knew right from wrong.
For the peopel all said sit down, sit down, you're rockin' the boat
People all said sit down
Sit down you're rockin' the boat.
And the devil will drag you under
By the sharp lapel of your checkered coat,
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down,
Sit down you're rockin' the boat.
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_http://users.cis.net/sammy/rockboat.htm_
(http://users.cis.net/sammy/rockboat.htm)
Rock The Boat
( The Hues Corporation )
So I'd like to know where, you got the notion
Said I'd like to know where, you got the notion
To rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
Rock the boat, don't tip the boat over
Rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby
Rock the boat
Ever since our voyage of love began
Your touch has thrilled me like the rush of the wind
And your arms have held me safe from a rolling sea
There's always been a quiet place to harbor you and me
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(TRADEMARK)
Word Mark ROCK THE VOTE
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: educating young people
about issues that affect them and encouraging young people to participate in the
political process by registering, voting and speaking out. FIRST USE:
19910000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19910000 Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Design Search Code Serial Number 75127310 Filing Date June 28, 1996 Current
Filing Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1A Published for Opposition June 16,
1998 Registration Number 2187083 Registration Date September 8, 1998 Owner
(REGISTRANT) Rock the Vote Education Fund CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 10635 SANTA
MONICA BOULEVARD Suite 150 LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA 90025 Type of Mark SERVICE
MARK Register PRINCIPAL-2(F) Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). Live/Dead
Indicator LIVE
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(PROQUEST)
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_EDITORIAL POINTS.(2)_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=78&did=717931502&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140965057&
clientId=65882)
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1960). Boston, Mass.: Aug 23, 1896. p. 20 (1 page)
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The man who rocks the boat ought to be stoned when he gets back on shore.
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_TO UPHOLD STATE HONOR; National Democracy Names a Third Ticket in Brooklyn.
DANIEL G. GRIFFIN FOR GOVERNOR F.W. Hinrichs for Second Place -- Spencer
Clinton for Judge of Court of Appeals. ROUSING WELCOME FOR GEN. PALMER Earnest
Work of the Convention Adjourned from Syracuse -- Declaration Made by the New
Party. _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=79&did=108249593&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140965487&clientId=65882)
New York Times (1857. Sep 25, 1896. p. 1 (2 pages)
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Pg. 1:
Displayed near the platform in the convention hall was a large
representation of the full-rigged ship, the party emblem last year of the Democratic Party
Reform Organization. This name was changed by a formal resolution to the
National Democratic Party. This, it was said, would settle any possible question
as to what would be the party emblem on the ballots this year. It will be
the ship.
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Pg. 2:
In each seat was placed a big sheet of cartoons and some small political
pamphlets. The cartoons represented their axes while the farmer turns the
grindstone; Bland as "the fool who rocks the boat"; a contrast of the Mexican peon
and the American laborer; China and Mexico as wrecked ships that have just
gone over Niagara Falls to a silver basis; a free-silver trap set to catch
farmers and laborers, and several others. At the bottom of the cartoons were
printed some sound-money arguments.
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_PERSONAL._
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=80&did=108253926&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140965748&clientId=658
82)
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Oct 10, 1896. p. 4 (1
page)
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The Mobile (Ala.) Register welcomes Capt. REUBEN F. KOLB into the ranks of
the Bryanites, and says: "No apologies are necessary save to our readers, who
need to be told that Capt. KOLB and we are in the same boat now, and that it
is an old axiom that when you can't swim you must not rock the boat. Well, we
are going to keep dead quiet during the voyage and make friends with all on
board. These are troublous times, and the swimming is not only uncertain, but
very cold. Capt. KOLB knows something about it, as his recent rather violent
departure from his Populist and Republican associates proves."
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_Article 9 -- No Title_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=83&did=280964362&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140965905
&clientId=65882)
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: May 31, 1897. p. 6 (1
page)
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The friends of Hon. Bill Maister declare the next Mayor of Baltimore will be
Maister or a Democrat. At last Maister has begun to rock the boat.
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_Article 6 -- No Title_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=90&did=230552002&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140966205
&clientId=65882)
The Washington Post (1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Apr 16, 1898. p. 6 (1
page)
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Hon. George L. Wellington is consistent in one respect. He never misses an
opportunity to rock the boat.
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_OPENING OF THE SILLY SEASON._
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=101&did=421971111&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=11
40966296&clientId=65882)
Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963). Chicago, Ill.: May 17, 1900. p. 6 (1
page)
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If further proof were needed to convince doubters that the silly season is
upon us it is furnished by the fact that the "man who rocks the boat" has
already begun to work, several weeks ahead of scheduled time, on several of the
Wisconsin lakes.
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_EDITORIAL POINTS._
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=102&did=570827152&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140966542&cl
ientId=65882)
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1960). Boston, Mass.: Jun 19, 1900. p. 6 (1 page)
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The fool who rocks the boat "to scare the girl" was drowned the other day in
Indiana. Unfortunately there are others like him.
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_A Line-o'-Type or Two.; Official Organ of the Line-o'-Type Society of
America. Americans of Yesterday. William Jennings Bryan, 43. _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=154&did=407201071&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=P
QD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140966910&clientId=65882)
B L TAYLOR. Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963). Chicago, Ill.: Jun 14, 1903.
p. B2 (1 page)
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THE individual who rocks the boat, the man who didn't know it was loaded,
and the climber of the Alps are of imagination all compact.
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_Editorial Article 2 -- No Title_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=169&did=561084672&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS
=1140967007&clientId=65882)
The Atlanta Constitution (1881-2001). Atlanta, Ga.: May 4, 1904. p. 4 (1
page)
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It is far better to get on the bandwagon than to rock the boat.
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_EDITORIAL POINTS._
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=183&did=691417192&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140967282&cl
ientId=65882)
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1960). Boston, Mass.: Oct 24, 1904. p. 6 (1 page)
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Mayor Collins says that nothing would please him more than to go fishing
with President Roosevelt, but that he shouldn't like to have him run the craft.
He'd be afraid that Mr. Roosevelt would rock the boat.
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_And the Newspapers as "the Man Who Rocks the Boat."_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=240&did=104992573&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&
RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140967521&clientId=65882)
New York Times (1857-Current file). New York, N.Y.: Aug 7, 1907. p. 6 (1
page)
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The newspapers are distinctly at fault in this matter, being somewhat in the
position of the man who rocks the boat.
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_TAFT WILL DEMAND REST FOR COUNTRY; Will Support Roosevelt's Policies, but
He Will Not "Rock the Boat." NO RADICAL COMPETITION Campaign Finances Will Be
Put Under New York Publicity Law -- Southerners Predict Landslide from
Bryan._
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=259&did=104740067&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1140967633&clientId=65882)
Special to The New York Times.. New York Times (1857-Current. Jul 18, 1908.
p. 1 (1 page)
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HOT SPRINGS, Va. July 17.--To-day, twenty-four hours after the completion of
the first draft of the speech of acceptance Judge Taft will deliver in
Cincinnati on July 28, it will become known that his speech in its final form will
probably contain something like a pledge not to "rock the boat" as far as
the country's corporate industries are concerned.
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