Sure! Let’s transform this definition into a fun entry for The Dictionary of Clichés:
🔄 By the Same Token: Doubling Down on Facts and Fables 🔄
Description: A nuanced deep dive into the age-old cliché “by the same token.” Why use one piece of evidence when you can bewilder them with two? 😜
Categories:
- Fun with Language
- Clichés
- Historical Phrases
Tags:
- language
- clichés
- history
- humor
Author: “Quentin Quips”
Date: 2023-10-02
Origins and Meaning ✨
The phrase “by the same token” stands as one of those durable clichés that saw its initial light somewhere around the fifteenth century. Back then, a “token” meant a sign or a symbol, sort of like a medieval emoji 📜😊. Initially, “by the same token” was used to say “on the same grounds” or “for the same reason,” invoking a sense of logical consistency.
However, by the time Shakespeare had donned his poofy blouse, the phrase had transformed. Post-1600, it had shifted its role to herald a corroborating fact or circumstance — essentially evidence stacking before it was cool.
A Dash of Dickens 📚
Example time! A classic Dickens reference illustrates the concept elegantly:
“Others caused large Fires to be made … by the same token that two or three were pleased to set their houses on fire and so effectually sweetened them by burning them down to the ground.” – Charles Dickens, “Little Dorrit”, 1857.
In simpler (and slightly less Victorian) terms: if it’s worth doing once, it’s doubly worth proving with an additional fiery flourish. 🔥
Related Terms and Similar Expressions 🔗
- In the same vein
- Corroborating evidence
- Moreover
- Additionally
- To boot
- On top of that
Humorous Quote 🕶️
“Redundancy is my middle name. By the same token, it’s also my surname.” – Pseudo-Confucius
Suggested Reading List 📚
- “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens – For a hefty dose of Dickensian flair.
- “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens – Witness more linguistic masterpieces.
- “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White – Master clarity and concise expression, and appreciate how clichés can be both revered and avoided.
Quiz Time! 🤓
Inspirational Goodbye:
And remember, dear reader, the beauty of language thrives on both the old and the new. Each cliché, by the same token, carries a story longing to be rediscovered. So until next time, may your evidential tokens be ever plentiful!
Yours wittily, Quentin Quips
