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darcy log... darcy log...
 
January 09, 2009 06:24 PM

Where does the term "sit tight" come from? Is it possible to "sit loose"?

JonathanH told me to "sit tight" earlier, and it made me wonder where that term came from. Anyone know? I know you can hang loose, which doesn't mean to be impatient, but never heard someone who is being impatient as being "loose," so why does "sit tight" mean be patient?
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nativenerd nativenerd
 
 January 09, 2009 07:26 PM
Well, research into this appears to be more involved than I thought it would be! I havn't found any good explainations of the origin of the phrase, so I'll just wing it...=P

My uncle once told me that the phrase came from old WWII pilots ensuring their belts were pulled tight since their planes were "convertables". Needless to say, it would be a bad thing if they forgot to fasten their seat belt when the plane rolled over....

As far as hang loose...no idea, although I do have a few rather inappropriate thoughts to where it comes from.
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vandal913 vandal913
 
January 09, 2009 08:31 PM
I think the better question to ask is why is the word 'tight' used in both this phrase and in the phrase 'sleep tight'. Below is some insight into this, but the basic gist of it is that the word 'tight' was formerly used as synonym for 'soundly' or 'securely'. So when someone was telling you to sleep tight or sit tight, it was basically a way to say sleep soundly or sit soundly; essentially be patient!

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/sleep%20tight.html

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