🔎 The Third Degree: Intensively Inquiring Illuminations 🔍
Definition:
The third degree: To give or be subjected to intensive questioning and/or rough treatment.
Origins and History:
In Freemasonry, the third and highest degree is that of master mason, attained after a stiff examination. Several writers speculate that this may be the source of the late nineteenth-century expression for an inquisition.
Modern Usage:
Today, the term “the third degree” encompasses both the intense scrutiny by authorities to extract information and the more benign sense of thorough questioning. For instance, “Jane gave Martha the third degree about her good-looking new boss.”
Related Terms:
- Cross-examination: Intense questioning of a witness in a court of law.
- Interrogation: Formal questioning, especially by the police.
- Grilling: Ask someone a lot of questions for a long time.
- Quizzing: Informal questioning, often with intent to test knowledge.
Similar Terms:
- Give a going-over: To subject someone to scrutiny or interrogation.
- Put to the test: To thoroughly examine someone’s abilities or reliability.
- Rake over the coals: Severely reprimand or criticize.
Synonyms:
- Inquisition
- Examination
- Scrutiny
- Interrogation
- Inquiry
Antonyms:
- Neglect
- Overlook
- Ignore
- Dismiss
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “A detective’s job is all about giving criminals the third degree… and a few Sudoku puzzles on their day off.”
Proverbs & Wisdom:
- “In questions of power, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” — Thomas Jefferson
- “The tongue has no bones, but it’s strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.” — An English Proverb
Literature and Culture:
Books:
- “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett
- “Sherlock Holmes” by Arthur Conan Doyle
- “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
Movies:
- L.A. Confidential (1997)
- Sin City (2005)
- Zodiac (2007)
Songs:
- “Every Breath You Take” by The Police
- “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson
- “21 Questions” by 50 Cent
Poetry:
- “The Interrogation” by Li-Young Lee
Keeping this practice intriguing, here are some quizzes for you to test your grasp of idioms:
See you on the flipside! Stay curious and keep questioning the world, one cliché at a time. — P. I. Pryasks
