phrases, sayings, idioms and expressions at

In his heyday

Posted by ESC on April 11, 2003

In Reply to: In his heyday posted by ESC on April 10, 2003

: : does anyone know where the expression
: : 'in his hayday' comes from

: Here's what I found. From Merriam-Webster online. See the last line:

: Main Entry: 1hey·day
: Pronunciation: 'hA-"dA
: Function: interjection
: Etymology: irregular from hey
: Date: 1672
: archaic -- used to express elation or wonder

: Main Entry: 2heyday
: Function: noun
: Date: 1590
: 1 archaic : high spirits
: 2 : the period of one's greatest strength, vigor, or prosperity

HEYDAY - "goes back to an Anglo-Saxon use of 'hey' as an expression of great enthusiasm and happiness. So a person's 'heyday' is the period of his (or her) greatest vigor and success." From the Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins, New York, 1977, 1988).

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