fun with phrases

[Ben Zimmer]

On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 7:28 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
> "Suddenly, the rules had changed."
>
> Not usu. "rules" but conditions, common practice, etc. Another dramatic
> rhetorical cliche'.
>
> Nothing in GB before 1991. Nothing in Time archives.

"Plays by his own rules."

Virtually nonexistent before the '70s. The Ngram Viewer shows a big
jump in the '90s.

--bgz

--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

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