[Ads-l] Antedating of "Props" (Due Respect)

[Ben Zimmer]

I saw that example when I was looking for antedatings, and I'm quite sure
this is referring to the theatrical kind of props. Fred Risser, the
Democratic Senate president, was objecting to the Republican governor,
Tommy Thompson, using members of the legislature as props for his
prime-time "state of the state" address. Risser wasn't objecting to giving
the governor his proper respect.

On Sun, May 17, 2026 at 12:00 AM Bill Mullins <amcombill at hotmail.com> wrote:

> >   Could this be "props" in a more theatrical or performance sense?
>
> I don't think so.  I read the article with that possibility in mind, and
> it is consistent with the sense that started this thread.
>
> ________________________________
> From: Bill Mullins <amcombill at hotmail.com>
> Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2026 10:35 PM
> To: American Dialect Society <ads-l at listserv.uga.edu>; OEDUK <
> oed.uk at oup.com>
> Subject: Antedating of "Props" (Due Respect)
>
> 1987 Wisconsin State Journal 18 Dec Sec 3 p 10 col 1
>
> "I don't think the Legislature needs to come back at night just to give
> him (Thompson) props for a prime-time TV appearance," said Senate President
> Fred Risser, D-Madison.
>
>
> https://www.newspapers.com/image/400575609/?match=1&terms=%22give%20him%20props%22
>
>

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