Bible-bashing

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Nov 20, 2006, at 9:44 AM, Larry Horn wrote:

>> In a message dated 11/20/06 11:54:45 AM, zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU
>> writes:
>>
>>
>>>  the 'Bible-thumping' uses seem to be british (or australian).
>>>  american uses seem to be of 'bashing the Bible'.  the u.k. cites
>>>  include some in both senses.
>>>
>>>  arnold
>>>
>>
>> I wonder if "bible-bashing" in the (instrumental) sense of 'bible-
>> attacking'
>> could derive from the recipient (I hesitate to use the old term
>> "patient")
>> sense found in "queer-bashing" and "fag bashing" ?
>>
> I wonder when the earlier "-baiting" (with recipients being bears,
> Jews, and Reds/Commies, inter alia) turned into "-bashing".  And why.

another possible contribution to the 'attacking' sense.  the bears
and bulls (where "bait" is 'cause to bite' originally) are surely the
historical source for metaphorical extensions, which the OED records
from *very* early on.

it has "Jew-bait/baiting/baiter" from 1892 on, "red-bait/baiting/
baiter" from 1929 on.  googling pulls up a small number for "fag-
baiting" (239), dwarfed by "fag-bashing" (18,500).  "gay-baiting" is
also well under "gay-bashing" (79.400 to 864,000), while "queer-
baiting" is under "queer-bashing" but not by so much (27,700 to
49,500). in any case, some of the "bait" versions are still healthy.

arnold

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