Is it racking or wracking my brain?
Is it racking or wracking my brain?
The spelling ‘rack’ is now used in all senses except for the seaweed called wrack. So it’s “rack and ruin,” … “racking my brains,” and so on. Some other usage guides provide a way of dealing with this question that has a certain brutal charm: just stop using the word wrack.
How do you use brain racking?
to think very hard: I’ve been racking my brains all day but I can’t remember her name. considerDon’t make any decisions before you’ve considered the matter.
Where does racking my brain come from?
The word was used whenever something or someone was under particular stress, and a huge variety of things were said to be ‘racked’. The first recorded use of this being specifically applied to brains is in William Beveridge’s Sermons, circa 1680: “They rack their brains… they hazard their lives for it.”
Can nerves be racked?
When something is making you feel very nervous, you can say it’s nerve-wracking, even though nerve-racking might be the more appropriate choice. The verbs wrack and rack have different meanings, but they both carry ideas of destruction that seem to fit the meaning of the phrase.
Where does racking your brain come from?
What is rack and ruin?
Definition of go to rack and ruin : to become destroyed or ruined The old house has gone to rack and ruin.
What does nerve racking mean?
Definition of nerve-racking : extremely trying on the nerves a nerve-racking ordeal The job interview was a nerve-racking experience.
Where did the saying rack and ruin come from?
The term ‘going to wreck’ was the forerunner of ‘rack and ruin’ and was used as early as 1548, in a sermon by Ephraim Udall: “The flocke goeth to wrecke and vtterly perisheth.”
What is the definition of Equivoque?
Definition of equivoque 1 : an equivocal word or phrase specifically : pun. 2a : double meaning. b : wordplay.
Is nerve-racking correct?
“Nerve-racking” is the original and correct spelling of this phrase, which describes something that makes you extremely nervous. “Nerve-wracking” is a widely-used and well-established variant spelling. Many editors and usage dictionaries find it acceptable, but purists and prescriptivists consider it an error.
What is the meaning of the phrase racking his brain?
To rack one’s brain means to strain mightily to think of something or remember something. The term rack one’s brain dates back to the 1600s. The word rack comes from the Old English word recken, meaning to stretch out.
Is it spelled racking my brain or wracking my brain?
The correct form is “racking my brain”, stemming from the Medieval torture device used to extract confessions and information. “Wrack” is a synonym of “ruin” or “destroy”.
What does rack your brain mean?
What does ‘Rack your brain’ mean? If you rack your brain, you think very hard when trying to remember something or think hard to solve a problem, findf and answer, etc. (‘Rack your brains’ is an alternative.) Category: Body and bodily functions Idioms similar to ‘Rack your brain’ Brain surgery Brain drain
Is it “racking your brain” or “wracking your brain”?
There are some language guides, generally the ones that pay a lot of attention to the etymology of “rack” and “wrack”, that will still say it is “racking your brain” not “wracking your brain”, but these are becoming few and far between. In fact, people have been confusing “rack” and “wrack” almost as long as the two words have existed.
