🏃♂️💀 The Quick and the Dead
Definition: The living and the dead. The word “quick” for “living” was used as far back as King Alfred’s time (cwicum in Middle English, circa 897 A.D.), but it is rarely used in this meaning nowadays, except in this cliché and in expressions like “cut to the quick.”
Origin:
- Medieval Literature: The term “quick” meaning “alive” appears in Middle English texts.
- Literary Use: Amélie Rives used it as the title of her novel The Quick or the Dead (1888).
- Modern Quip: Britain’s Lord Dewar remarked, “There are two classes of pedestrians in these days of reckless motor traffic: the quick and the dead” (George Robey, Looking Back on Life, 1933).
Similar Terms:
- Cut to the quick: Be deeply hurt emotionally.
- Living on borrowed time: Surviving past an expected lifespan.
- Dead man walking: Someone doomed or in imminent danger.
Humorous Quotes:
- “In today’s traffic, if you’re not ‘quick,’ you might just end up ‘dead’.”
- “Driving in the city? You’re either ‘quick’ or you’re sorry!”
Proverbs:
- “Fortune favors the brave, but speed saves the living.”
- “Half-preparedness is perilous; you’re either quick or you’re toast.”
Recommended Literature:
- The Quick or the Dead by Amélie Rives
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy—another exploration of survival themes.
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (full of quick decisions, sometimes leading to dead ends!).
Films and Songs:
- Movies: The Quick and the Dead (1995) - A classic Western.
- Songs: “Dead or Alive” by Bon Jovi – capturing the spirit of survival.
Inspirational Thought:
In a world that moves faster each day, remember to keep your mind “quick” and your soul alive. Be bold, be adventurous, and always value your life journey.
### In the phrase "the quick and the dead", what does "quick" mean?
- [x] Living
- [ ] Fast-moving
- [ ] Impulsive
- [ ] Sharp-witted
> **Explanation:** "Quick" in this context means "living," an archaic usage rarely seen outside of idioms.
### What does "cut to the quick" mean?
- [x] Deeply hurt emotionally
- [ ] Fast cut
- [ ] Trimmed shortly
- [ ] Immediate attention
> **Explanation:** "Cut to the quick" means to hurt someone deeply, especially their emotions.
### Is "living on borrowed time" a similar idiom to "the quick and the dead"?
- [x] Yes
- [ ] No
> **Explanation:** "Living on borrowed time" refers to continuing to live past an expected time of death, much like surviving among the "quick."
### True or False: "Quick" meaning "alive" is still commonly used in modern English.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** No, it's not commonly used in modern English, except in certain idioms and literary contexts.
### Finish the quote: "There are two classes of pedestrians in these days of reckless motor traffic: the ___ and the dead.”
- [x] quick
- [ ] scared
- [ ] cautious
- [ ] swift
> **Explanation:** The correct word is "quick." The quote highlights the necessity of speed for survival in dangerous conditions.
Fair winds and following seas,
Vivian Vernacular
