10 Phrases From Alice in Wonderland
Have you gone down a rabbit hole lately? Did you, perhaps, happen upon this very post by going down an internet rabbit hole? Thanks to Lewis Carroll’s classic tale, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, you have the exact words you need to describe your world-wide-web wanderings.
As it turns out, his wildly popular story—celebrating its 150th anniversary this year—is the source of many other common cultural phrases. So common, in fact, that even if you haven’t read Alice, you probably quote it all the time. (Much like you probably quote Zoolander all the time, except with more accuracy.) Follow us on a long, strange etymological journey where all paths lead back to Wonderland.
1. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Much as with our buddy the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat has been ingrained in the membrane. The adjectival phrase is, once again, associated with a specific character. So whenever someone describes a person as grinning like a Cheshire cat, we can picture that huge, mischievous—and slightly unsettling—smile.
4. OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!
Sure, Shakespeare scribbled it first—but Carroll’s Queen of Hearts certainly popularized the imperative.
5. I’M LATE, I’M LATE, FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE
We feel you, White Rabbit. We have as much FOMO as you do.
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