🌅 Shank of the Evening
shank of the evening - Twilight, dusk. This expression uses shank in the sense of “latter part of” or “end of,” a usage rare except in this phrase. The earliest citation in the OED is from 1828. P. G. Wodehouse used it in Pearls, Girls, and Monty Bodkin (1972), “‘It’s very late.’—‘Shank of the evening.’”
Synonyms
- Twilight
- Dusk
- Sundown
- Eventide
- Gloaming
Antonyms
- Dawn
- Morning
- Sunrise
- Daybreak
Quotes & Proverbs
- “The cable bullshits at the shank of the evening, when the darkest informs light.
- “At the shank of the evening twilight falls on lovers.”
🌟 Fun Fact
Dusk is scientifically divided into three stages: civil, nautical, and astronomical. Who knew science cold be so…twilightful?
- Literature: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
- Book: Nightfall by Isaac Asimov
- Song: “Twilight Time” by The Platters
- Poetry: “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron
- Movie: Before Sunset directed by Richard Linklater
🎨 Painter’s Note
Artists often cherish the “golden hour” which is slightly before what this expression defines but envelopes a similar touch of transient magic.
Quizzes
### Which of these essentially means the same as "shank of the evening"?
- [ ] Break of day
- [x] Twilight
- [ ] Noon
- [ ] Mid-morning
> **Explanation:** The “shank of the evening” refers to twilight or dusk, the latter part of the day.
### The Beckoning Darkness: Tales of Twilight Quiz
#### True or False: "Shank of the evening" can refer to twilight.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Absolutely true! “Shank of the evening” is a poetic way to describe the onset of dusk or twilight.
### Choose the Odd One Out:
#### Which one of these does not relate to dusk or twilight in some way?
- [ ] Gloaming
- [x] Daybreak
- [ ] Sundown
- [ ] Evening
> **Explanation:** While twilight and gloaming are similar, and sundown and evening are related, daybreak refers to the breaking of dawn, the exact opposite time frame.
### Identify the Patently False Expression:
Which of the following is a made-up expression?
- [ ] Eventide
- [x] Breaking at midnight's hour
- [ ] The gloaming
- [ ] Sunset
> **Explanation:** “Breaking at midnight’s hour” is a creative concoction, whereas eventide, gloaming, and sunset genuinely refer to periods around sundown.
### What Part of the Day Is Referred to in "Shank of the Evening"?
- [ ] Midday
- [x] Late day, twilight
- [ ] Early morning
- [ ] Noon
> **Explanation:** It captures the magical window verging on twilight as evening says hello.
### The Etymology Expert:
#### Shank in "shank of the evening" most nearly means:
- [x] Latter part or end
- [ ] Bone
- [ ] Knife
- [ ] Peak
> **Explanation:** Here, "shank" takes on the lesser-known meaning of the phrase “latter part of,” drawing on older usage often forgotten.
### Match the Impression:
#### Which expression doesn’t belong?
- [ ] Gloaming
- [ ] Eventide
- [ ] Sundown
- [x] High noon
> **Explanation:** High noon is smack in the middle of the day, nowhere near the soft encroachments of eventide and sundown.
### Fill in the Blank:
#### The eloquent expression “shank of the evening” beautifully translates to the familiar term _____.
- [ ] Noon
- [x] Twilight
- [ ] Dawn
- [ ] Morning
> **Explanation:** Twilight, all the strolls through soft-lit memories, perfectly aligns to the “shank of the evening.”
As you journey into the poetic depths of the evening’s shank, may you find beauty in transitions and magic in fleeting moments. With a twinkling star or two to guide your thoughts, allow inspiration to dance across the canvas of your twilight hours.
