🍏 Holding One’s Hat in One’s Hand 🍊
Definition:
To behave submissively or obsequiously; to plead for something (pardon, a favor, and the like). Here’s a term that recalls the good old days when removing your hat was more than just a clever trick to hide a bad hair day—it was a sign of respect and submission.
Johannes Vermeer might have painted ladies clutching pearls, but the men had their hats in hand, pleading like it was the Dutch Golden Age.
History & Usage:
Samuel Palmer summed it up nicely in “Moral Essays on Proverbs” back in 1710: “A man’s hat in his hand never did him any harm.” Despite hats falling out of fashion as fast as bell-bottom jeans, the phrase still tiptoes through the halls of diplomacy.
Similar Terms:
- Kissing the ring: A close cousin to holding your hat, symbolizing deference to someone in power. Think “Godfather,” without the mob drama.
- Bowing and scraping: An equally obsequious duo. All that’s missing is a curtsy.
- Eating humble pie: Because sometimes holding a hat in hand isn’t quite enough. You might need to eat some metaphorical crow.
Synonyms:
- Submissive supplication
- Obsequious pleading
- Humble entreaty
Antonyms:
- Asserting dominance
- Standing one’s ground
- Holding firm
Quotes:
“Rather than demand answers, he approached with his hat in his hand, hoping deference would yield dividends.”
“Sure, you could go in there like a bull in a china shop, or you could try holding your hat in your hand.”
Proverbs:
“Soft words butter no parsnips, but a well-held hat can turn a favor.”
Literary References:
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen: Mr. Collins often metaphorically holds his hat in his hand before Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee: Atticus Finch might not hold his hat, but his respectful demeanor speaks volumes.
- “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas: Edmund Dantès, before he becomes the Count, is often in situations requiring careful submission.
Film References:
- “The Godfather” (1972): While there’s more ring-kissing, the respect-maxing is similar.
- “The King’s Speech” (2010): Watching a future King learn to show his humility and vulnerability as he stutters his way into hearts.
- “Rocky” (1976): Rocky Balboa might be a man of few words, but his quiet, respectful manners with Adrian say it all.
Musical Reference:
- “Respect” by Aretha Franklin: It’s the anthem for respectful pleading. Okay, maybe not hats, but the feeling is mutual.
Poetry:
- “If—” by Rudyard Kipling: A manual for manly virtues, touching on humility and respect which may, in turn, suggest metaphorical hat-holding.
- “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley: Feels to be less about holding hats and more about keeping your head on. Still inspirational!
Inspirational Thought:
Endings are merely beginnings in disguise. Might as well hold your hat in your hand and step forward gracefully into what’s next. Respectfully yours,
E. L. Eblick
