So I was sitting with a friend today and we wondered: What is the origin of “Putting the Kabash on something” ?
After Googling it we came up empty and I thought either you or one of the MikeDiDonato.com readers might know
Anyone have any ideas or know of any phrase history websites?
I think it’s spelled Kibosh, which is probably why you found nothing. But, everywhere says it’s “of unknown origin” though there are some speculations.
Ian sent me this info:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/kibosh.htm
Pretty awesome!
Once again MikeDiDonato.com readers come to the rescue!
from Ben:
kibosh (alternately, kybosh)
‘To put the kybosh on’ is to do for something, finish it off, or simply to end it or terminate it. The OED says the origin is obscure and possibly Hebrew Yiddish, but it may be from the Irish an chaip bháis, ‘the cap of death’. a reference to the English practice of “Tar Capping” Irish rebel prisoners, pouring hot tar on their heads and then ripping the hardened tar off. [2] or cabáiste, cabbage [3].
Awesome!
I agree, awesome! THANKS