To Dance Attendance On, Dance Attendance On Someone
🕺💃 To dance attendance on someone: To obey someone’s slightest whim or wish, to act as someone’s obsequious flunky. The term comes from the ancient custom of having the bride dance with every wedding guest, whether she wanted to or not. It has been used since the early sixteenth century, first in the sense of waiting for someone to grant an audience, as by John Skelton in his 1522 work, “Why Come Ye Not to Court?.” Shakespeare took it further, concluding that it meant to be at someone’s beck and call (see “Henry VIII,” Act V, Scene 2). By about 1700, it had danced its way into cliché territory. 🌟
Similar Terms and Idioms
- 🕴️ At someone’s beck and call: To be readily available to someone.
- Synonyms: Submissive service, unquestioning obedience.
- Antonyms: Ignoring, independence.
Thought-Provoking Quote
“No one rises so high as he who knows not whither he is going.” - Oliver Cromwell (Pondering the irony of blind obedience!)
Related Proverbs
- “When the cat’s away, the mice will play”: Freedom and independence emerge in the absence of authority.
- “A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse”: Obscure instructions serve little purpose if the recipient waits on obvious signals.
Literature References
- 📚 “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: This classic tale subtly critiques societal expectations and the servitude of young women within familial and social structures.
- 📖 “1984” by George Orwell: Delve into the extreme of obedience and servitude in a dystopian future.
Song Suggestions
- 🎵 “Respect” by Aretha Franklin: Because even in dancing attendance, one must demand their R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
- 🎶 “Slave 4 U” by Britney Spears: A modern twist on bending over backward for someone’s whims.
Movies for Inspiration
- 🎬 “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006): Explore the dynamics of being at someone’s beck and call in the cut-throat fashion industry.
- 🎥 “Catch Me If You Can” (2002): A perspective on manipulating servitude and authority.
Reflect and Dance On: Being at someone’s beck and call causes one to lose sight of their own path. Remember, finding balance between servitude and self-worth sets the right rhythm to life. Dance to the tune of your own making! 💡
Author: Langston Quill, 2023.
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