"Racke not thy wit to winne by wicked waies. The term rack ones brain dates back to the 1600s. The same idea was used by the composer William Byrd in 1583 when he wrote: Quick summary The words rack and wrack are often used interchangeably in the contexts of destruction and torment. To rack ones brain means to strain mightily to think of something or remember something. The first recorded use of this being specifically applied to brains is in William Beveridge's Sermons, circa 1680: "They may not racke and stretche oute the rentes of their houses" ![]() ![]() How to use rack ones brain in a sentence. The term was called on whenever something or someone was under particular stress and all manner of things were said to be 'racked' for example, in the Prymmer or boke of priuate prayer nedeful to be vsed of al faythfull Christians, 1553 there's a reference to the racking, that is, increasing, of land rent: The meaning of RACK ONES BRAIN is to think very hard in order to try to remember something, solve a problem, etc. "How haue the houres rack'd, and tortur'd me, Since I haue lost thee?" Shakespeare was one of many authors who used this for example, from Twelfth Night, 1602: It isn't surprising that 'rack' was adopted as a verb meaning to cause pain and anguish. Transcribed image text: I had to wrack my brain and plum the depths of my resources to overcome the foul consequences of my previous vice.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |