phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

You smell, I stink

Posted by Gary on February 04, 2002

In Reply to: You smell, I stink posted by Frank Lynch on February 04, 2002

: Within this web site, a page attributes the phrase "You smell, I stink" to Ben Jonson. This is news to me, and either erroneous or helpful. I've usually seen it attributed (without a real citation) to Samuel Johnson - - yet I believe it's apocryphal. (Please see www.samueljohnson.com/ apocryph.html ) If there is a genuine citation to Ben Jonson, I's love to have it, and would gladly add it to my page. Any one know?

That origin was dubious, okay wrong, so I've removed it.

Gary

© 1997 – 2024 Phrases.org.uk. All rights reserved.