Peeping Tom, anyone, anyone?

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eberntson
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Peeping Tom, anyone, anyone?

Postby eberntson » Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:29 am

Where does the phrase "Peeping Tom" come from?
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KatyBr
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Postby KatyBr » Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:56 pm


Meaning

A voyeur.

Origin

From the story of Lady Godiva's ride in the nude through Coventry, when she was spied on by Tom the Tailor.
from:http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/280650.html

Katy
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anders
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Postby anders » Sat Mar 05, 2005 5:27 am

One wonders who spied on Tom, or if he bragged about it afterwards.
Irren ist männlich
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Apoclima
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Postby Apoclima » Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:36 am

Of whom are we speaking?

The famous one, Tom from down the street!

Yes, exactly him, Tom!

I think that it comes from Tomcat! (oder Kaeter)

Always looking from something that would satisfy, in vain or in glory!

Nothing really does!

So keep looking!?!

It was Tom. I recognize his footprints!

Sitran Apoclima
'Experiments are the only means of knowledge at our disposal. The rest is poetry, imagination.' -Max Planck
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KatyBr
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Postby KatyBr » Sat Mar 05, 2005 2:55 pm

wasn't Tom a generic name from that era? a name for any kind of knave, a nursery rhyme boy, or loud male (redundant, I know) cat? Much like 'Joe' is now the generic man's name? (i.e. common Joe, Joe Blo, Cuppa Joe)

So it's only natural to say peeping Tom, rather than peeping Basil, or peeping Onslo.

Katy
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