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Conference thebay::joyoflex

Title:The Joy of Lex
Notice:A Notes File even your grammar could love
Moderator:THEBAY::SYSTEM
Created:Fri Feb 28 1986
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1192
Total number of notes:42769

550.0. " Is red carpet a soviet phrase ?" by CURIUS::CIUFFINI (If my Personal Name were a song, it ) Fri Aug 12 1988 02:40

    

     Does anyone know the origin of "Red Carpet Treatment" as 
     in  "Roll out the Red Carpet"
        
     There is no reference in the Morris ( etc.) book and while
     I think it dates back to the Middle Ages ( the 40's! :-))
     I can't confirm it.
    
     Thanks!
     jc
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550.1GIDDAY::VISSERThink before you type!Fri Aug 12 1988 10:0418
    As I am replying without first consulting any references, I am willing
    to be proved wrong about this...
    
    "Red carpet" treatment was reserved for monarchy in earlier days.
     Whenever royalty appeared in public, a carpet in royal red colour
    was laid out, so they didn't have to soil their dainty little feet.
     I believe red was chosen, to match the cloaks or gowns(?) they
    wore.
    
    In modern times, red carpet treatment is used whenever VIPs are
    about.  I think that it is more prevalent in Eurpean countries.
    
    
    If anybody can explain a more detailed history, I would be glad
    to hear it!
    
    ..klaas..
    
550.2a semi-informed guessGAOV11::MAXPROG6By popular demand , today is offFri Aug 12 1988 22:5412
    It dates back to when the streets were not quite as flat and mudless
    as they are now . Couldn't have royalty and the like treading on
    doggy-doos and the peasents breakfast . Rather like the laying down
    of the coat over a puddle for the lady on your arm . Of course ,
    those were the days when chauvanism was expected . 
    
    Don't know why the carpet was red , other than that's what most
    of the British monarchy's state dress was coloured . Not sure about
    other royal rules .
    
    John J
    
550.3HOCUS::HOLLANDASK FOR DOPAMINE BY NAME!Sat Aug 13 1988 02:064
    Don't you mean chivalry?
    
    Chauvanism is still alove and well among the in-groups of the world.
    
550.4this reply has no titleCOOKIE::DEVINEBob Devine, CXOSat Aug 13 1988 06:034
  > Chauvanism is still alove and well among the in-groups of the world.
                        ^^^^^
    
    This typo seems truer than the intended word!
550.5Time to stir the pot again.DSSDEV::STONERoyTue Aug 16 1988 01:373
    It seems to me that chivalry amounted to an acceptance of female 
    chauvinism.  Gentlemen were required to court women's favors as
    opposed to the lower classes who did what came natur'ly.
550.6TKOV51::DIAMONDThis note is illegal tender.Thu Apr 12 1990 10:375
    What's black and white and read all over?
    
    People's Daily.
    
    (Of course, the answer used to be Pravda.)
550.7TKOV51::DIAMONDThis note is illegal tender.Thu Apr 12 1990 10:417
    Re .-1
    
>   What's black and white and read all over?
                               ----
    
    Oh f#^@#%@#$%#*%$(^()*&^%^%^$%#$@#$@#$&#$%#$!k, that's supposed
    to be "red", of course.  Can't even hack a joke right.  ........