'Keep your hair on'

[Jelly Terror]

No, not a reference to any recent, heated forum exchanges, but something that tickled me recently, when reading about the Battle of Paardeberg (11th - 18th February 1900). In a letter penned the following March, to Lady Cranborne, Kitchener wrote:

'I have been having rather a bad time lately... I hope the authorities will keep their hair on...'

I couldn't help laughing aloud at that, and have to wonder as to the etymology of the phrase 'keep your hair on'.

Regards,

JT

[magpie]

If I remember correctly it was to do with arguments while wearing the large powdered wigs, if it got serious you'd take it off before you started fighting

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by magpie

If I remember correctly it was to do with arguments while wearing the large powdered wigs, if it got serious you'd take it off before you started fighting

Makes perfect sense, Andy; thank you.

Given its relatively common usage in our own day and age, it's easy to assume, erroneously, that it originates from fairly modern times, hence the reason I suppose it struck me as a little comical coming from such a serious and austere figure as Kitchener

Cheers mate.

[magpie]

It's/was described as Obsolete slang for don't loose your temper, don't get excited

[Charliedog012012]

Where I come from we say it the other way around. Instead of 'Keep your hair on' we always say 'Don't get your hair off' ! (I bet you are glad I told you that!)

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Charliedog012012

Where I come from we say it the other way around. Instead of 'Keep your hair on' we always say 'Don't get your hair off' ! (I bet you are glad I told you that!)

Haaaa! Excellent

It could be worse though, James...

image.jpeg

[Beaker123]

Originally Posted by magpie

If I remember correctly it was to do with arguments while wearing the large powdered wigs, if it got serious you'd take it off before you started fighting

I believe another saying, although seemingly no longer used, that referred to wigs being taken or knocked off during fisticuffs was "wigs on the green". It was used by one of the Mitford sisters as the title of a book satirising Mosley's Blackshirts or was it aimed at another Mitford.

[Jelly Terror]

I thought initially, the 'keep your hair on' thingy might have originated in the practice of judges placing the 'black cap' on their heads when passing a sentence of death. Incorrectly, I assumed their ceremonial wig was removed, the 'black cap' placed on their heads, and sentenced passed... hence the saying. However, it turns out that the 'black cap' (simply a square of black fabric) is placed on top of the ceremonial wig, so that's my theory out the window!

[Sawstonjohn]

I think you'll find a useful chapter in this chaps autobiography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Forsyth

[Charliedog012012]

I love finding about the derivation of words or phrases, eg: 'Mind your p's and q's' (from the printing trade), 'to coin a phrase' ( printing trade) , 'chatting' (WW1 trenches) etc. There are times however that our wonderful and rich language can cause a certain degree of confusion. My favourite instance of this was from a conversation that I overheard in a fish & chip restaurant:

Woman studying the menu " 'ere! This 'ere Red Snapper"...,,( to a bewildered waitress).
"Yes Madam, we do sell Red Snapper" replied the waitress.
"Is Red Snapper a crab?"

[rizzo]

Originally Posted by Charliedog012012

Where I come from we say it the other way around. Instead of 'Keep your hair on' we always say 'Don't get your hair off' ! (I bet you are glad I told you that!)

Yeah Charliedog...the old Yorkshire backward speak.
Impressed?..."that is good"....Impressed in Yorkshire..."good is that"

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Charliedog012012

I love finding about the derivation of words or phrases...

Agreed; the whys and wherefores of our wonderful language are indeed fascinating, so many of which have nautical/naval beginnings. Not surprising given that we are a seafaring, island nation. 'Swinging the lead'; 'three sheets to the wind'; 'shove off'; 'loose cannon'... the list is seemingly endless.

[Charliedog012012]

Originally Posted by rizzo

Yeah Charliedog...the old Yorkshire backward speak.
Impressed?..."that is good"....Impressed in Yorkshire..."good is that"

Thinking about it, I have to say 'true is that!'