Ragtag and Bobtail - Low-life, riffraff. This expression dates back to the seventeenth century, when ragtag referred to a ragged lot of people and bobtail to a horse with a tail cut short (“bobbed”), often deemed valueless. Samuel Pepys, in his Diary, slightly twisted the expression, describing, “The dining-room was full of tag rag and bobtail, dancing, singing, and drinking” (1658–59). Although it’s not commonly used today, especially in the United States, let’s dust it off and give it some of its old flair back!
Related and Similar Terms:
- Riffraff: Disreputable or undesirable people.
- Synonyms: Rabble, scum, lowlifes.
- Antonyms: Aristocracy, high society, elite.
- Rabble-Rouser: One who stirs up the public.
- Proverbs: “Don’t stir up a hornet’s nest.”
- Ragamuffin: A person, typically a child, dressed in ragged clothes.
- Expression: “Street urchin.”
- Society’s Dregs: The most worthless parts of something.
- Idiom: “The bottom of the barrel.”
Humor:
“I feel most at home among the ragtag and bobtail. Although, I suspect they’d prefer a different tagline.” – W. T. Wittywords.
Books:
- “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens: A tale of a young orphan who finds himself among the ragtag and bobtail of Victorian London.
- “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton: Chronicles the lives of Ponyboy and other “Greaser” youths considered underdogs of society.
Movies:
- 📽️ “The Goonies”: When a group of ragtag kids finds a treasure map, they embark on an adventure of a lifetime.
- 📽️ “Guardians of the Galaxy”: A band of misfit criminals comes together to save the universe—a true ragtag and bobtail ensemble!
Songs:
- 🎵 “We Will Rock You” by Queen: An anthem for the underestimated.
- 🎵 “Come Together” by The Beatles: Celebrates unity among the disparate.
Proverb Insight:
“The meek shall inherit the earth.” This Biblical phrase suggests that those considered lowly or weak (often the ragtag and bobtail of society) may eventually prevail.
Inspirational Quote:
“Sometimes the ragtag and bobtail are the ones to change the world, one whimsical chaos at a time.”
Farewell Thought:
“In a world obsessed with glitz and glamour, remember that true gems are often found amongst the ragtag and bobtail.” — W. T. Wittywords
