"Deader than a doorknob"

[ZX9RCAM]

I wonder who was the first person to say that, and why, lol?

 

[robertc1024]

It was my dad. He's full of colloquialisms.

 

[Hoji]

It has to do with the Doorknob Apocalypse of 1902.

 

[TexasBrandon]

When they all revolted and attacked people.

 

[Dawico]

I have a live doorknob so it makes no sense to me.

 

[coachrick]

Not sure WHO amended the original; but "Deader than a doorNAIL" seems to have some basis in carpentry:

[The phrase] could come from a standard term in carpentry. If you hammer a nail through a piece of timber and then flatten the end over on the inside so it can’t be removed again (a technique called clinching), the nail is said to be dead, because you can’t use it again. Doornails would very probably have been subjected to this treatment to give extra strength in the years before screws were available. So they were dead because they’d been clinched. It sounds plausible, but whether it’s right or not we will probably never know.


From...._
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

 

[CZPistol]

Yep, all the oldtimers I was exposed to as a kid always said "deader than a door nail" not door knob, so that's how I've always said it.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Youse guys are right.
I just happened to hear it stated as I asked, and it got me thinking about it for some reason. I didn't even realize it was "mis-stated" at the moment.

 

[vmax]

yeah, the phrase is deader than a door nail
I actually spent alot of time compiling a list of old phrases several years ago

many of them came from nauitcal backgrounds and alot of them from the King James Bible of 1611

 

[V-Tach]

It was my dad. He's full of colloquialisms.

Yes, Dads are.....

My Dad would often say......"even a dog with a hammer up his ass knows better than that"

 

[Younggun]

My dad always said "boy, when I get home I'm gonna punch your momma in the mouth..."





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[Wyldman]

My son would tell you my favorite was either "Improvise, adapt, & overcome" or "Better to have it & not need it than to need it and not have it".

Crush, kill, mangle, maim, destroy.

 

[acorneau]

My son would tell you my favorite was either "Improvise, adapt, & overcome" or "Better to have it & not need it than to need it and not have it".

Crush, kill, mangle, maim, destroy.

But if you live by the second how will you ever get to practice the first?

 

[cbigclarke]

It has to do with the Doorknob Apocalypse of 1902.

Lol...You stupid

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[cbigclarke]

yeah, the phrase is deader than a door nail
I actually spent alot of time compiling a list of old phrases several years ago

many of them came from nauitcal backgrounds and alot of them from the King James Bible of 1611

There was actually a tv show that addressed this

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[Charlie]

"Don't start no shit and there won't be any!"

 

[cbigclarke]

Feisty old bastard

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[Wyldman]

But if you live by the second how will you ever get to practice the first?

Because life has a habit of throwing nasty surprise to even the most prepared.

Crush, kill, mangle, maim, destroy.

 

[ROGER4314]

Not sure WHO amended the original; but "Deader than a doorNAIL" seems to have some basis in carpentry:

[The phrase] could come from a standard term in carpentry. If you hammer a nail through a piece of timber and then flatten the end over on the inside so it can’t be removed again (a technique called clinching), the nail is said to be dead, because you can’t use it again. Doornails would very probably have been subjected to this treatment to give extra strength in the years before screws were available. So they were dead because they’d been clinched. It sounds plausible, but whether it’s right or not we will probably never know.


From...._
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange

Hey.....that makes a lot of sense to me! Growing up as a Yankee in Chicago, the term used there is "deader than a door nail." According to your information, if the nail had been "clinched" in a high stress application like a door frame, it would have been "Deader than a door nail!"

I learn something new every day! Thanks!

Flash

 

[TheDan]

Someone on here shot their doorknob once. Maybe that's what it means? Can't remember who now...