Posted: 9/28/2009 6:52:49 AM EDT
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The term, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" is from Ancient Rome.
The only rule during wrestling matches was, "No eye gouging." Everything else was allowed, but the only way to be disqualified is to poke someone's eye out. |
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Quoted:
The term, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" is from Ancient Rome. The only rule during wrestling matches was, "No eye gouging." Everything else was allowed, but the only way to be disqualified is to poke someone's eye out. Groin hits were alowed? savages |
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Funny, I was taught that this phrase originated in the 16th Century as a result of the death of the French King Henry II. Henry it seems was an avid participant of jousting and when his court would plead with him to quit the dangerous sport he would reply; "it is only fun and games" but in 1559 while competing in a tournament, his armor deflected a blow that then pierced into his eye. He died a few days later from the wound. This tragedy became a parable for unnecessary risk and people would comment that "its all fun and games until someone loses an eye". The death of the King of course made the "national news" throughout Europe but adding to this story was the fact that Nostradamas had seemingly predicted the event and had even sought to warn the King about the vision of his demise. This prediction and its appearant fufillment propelled Nostradamas from the status of colorful writer of fiction who was already quite popular into that of a seer. Thus the phrase had a double entendre because many in Europe no longer considered the predictions of Nostradamas to be only "fun and games" after Henry II actually lost his eye as well as his life.
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