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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Usage
Source of the expression 'to use in anger'
Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning 'to use for its intended purpose' rather than training, practice, testing etc.
I think the phrase is commonly used in the software industry to describe when a product moves from testing into real-life use.
I assume it must have some sort of military origins but can find no solid references with Google.
Thanks.
~~
John
~~
For email replace SPAMOFF with a dot.
I think the phrase is commonly used in the software industry to describe when a product moves from testing into real-life use.
I assume it must have some sort of military origins but can find no solid references with Google.
Thanks.
~~
John
~~
For email replace SPAMOFF with a dot.
Top answer
[nq:1]Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning 'to use for its intended purpose' rather ... real-life use. [/nq] I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight.
- [nq:1]Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning 'to use for its intended purpose' rather ...
- real-life use.
- [/nq] I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight.
- When I worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' - another military analogy.
- DC
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning 'to use for its intended purpose' rather ... real-life use. I assume it must have some sort of military origins but can find no solid references with Google.[/nq]
I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight. When I worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' - another military analogy.
I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight. When I worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' - another military analogy.
00
[nq:2]Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use ... military origins but can find no solid references with Google.[/nq]
[nq:1]I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight. When I worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' - another military analogy.[/nq]
Thanks. This is my assumption too. Finding some facts to back this up is proving a little diffic
[nq:1]I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight. When I worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' - another military analogy.[/nq]
Thanks. This is my assumption too. Finding some facts to back this up is proving a little diffic
00
[nq:2]I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to ... was often refered to as 'kit' - another military analogy.[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks. This is my assumption too. Finding some facts to back this up is proving a little difficult though! I ... at her getting bad tempered when using her computer!!! Just wanted to find some evidence for the origin of expression.[/nq]
You may, I think, find
[nq:1]Thanks. This is my assumption too. Finding some facts to back this up is proving a little difficult though! I ... at her getting bad tempered when using her computer!!! Just wanted to find some evidence for the origin of expression.[/nq]
You may, I think, find
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[nq:2]Thanks. This is my assumption too. Finding some facts to ... wanted to find some evidence for the origin of expression.[/nq]
[nq:1]You may, I think, find that the original expression referred to shots. An inexperienced soldier would be said never to ... rather than just for practice. It could have started out with older weapons, but I remember only the firearms reference.[/nq]
Great.
[nq:1]You may, I think, find that the original expression referred to shots. An inexperienced soldier would be said never to ... rather than just for practice. It could have started out with older weapons, but I remember only the firearms reference.[/nq]
Great.
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