Discussion:
How did yellow come to refer to a cowardly person?
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pluto
2006-09-02 09:40:00 UTC
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Thursday August 31, 2006 Previous | Next

How did yellow come to refer to a cowardly person?
Mary
Sandy Hook, Connecticut

Dear Mary:
"What are ya, yellow?" Well, that depends, because the color can symbolize many
things. Fortunately, most of them are positive. For instance, a yellow rose is a
sign of friendship, and a yellow ribbon during wartime signifies hope and
loyalty. However, as fans of Western films are no doubt aware, the color can
also mean cowardice.
This site on figures of speech has a theory on the metaphor's origin. The site
says it has nothing to do with a person's perceived color. Rather, it's a nod to
the legendary yellowbelly lizard, a reptile apparently not known for its
intestinal fortitude (aka "guts"). The story goes that when confronted, the
yellowbelly lizard "exits on its belly as soon as possible."

Sounds reasonable, but the Straight Dope believes the expression began as a
medical term. Way back when, the human body was thought to have four distinct
fluids -- blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. According to medieval
medicine, yellow bile "made you peevish, choleric, irascible."

Interestingly, not all cultures equate yellow with cowardice. In Japan, the
color actually signifies courage, and in China, yellow was once an official
symbol of the emperor.



http://ask.yahoo.com/20060831.html
==end, and/or end quote || When replying respond to the original author, NOT ME PLEASE ==
-pluto
John & Su
2006-09-03 23:54:01 UTC
Permalink
Funny, in Belgium someone that wear yellow clothes are supposed to be
cuckoo.
Post by pluto
Thursday August 31, 2006 Previous | Next
How did yellow come to refer to a cowardly person?
Mary
Sandy Hook, Connecticut
"What are ya, yellow?" Well, that depends, because the color can symbolize many
things. Fortunately, most of them are positive. For instance, a yellow rose is a
sign of friendship, and a yellow ribbon during wartime signifies hope and
loyalty. However, as fans of Western films are no doubt aware, the color can
also mean cowardice.
This site on figures of speech has a theory on the metaphor's origin. The site
says it has nothing to do with a person's perceived color. Rather, it's a nod to
the legendary yellowbelly lizard, a reptile apparently not known for its
intestinal fortitude (aka "guts"). The story goes that when confronted, the
yellowbelly lizard "exits on its belly as soon as possible."
Sounds reasonable, but the Straight Dope believes the expression began as a
medical term. Way back when, the human body was thought to have four distinct
fluids -- blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. According to medieval
medicine, yellow bile "made you peevish, choleric, irascible."
Interestingly, not all cultures equate yellow with cowardice. In Japan, the
color actually signifies courage, and in China, yellow was once an official
symbol of the emperor.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20060831.html
==end, and/or end quote || When replying respond to the original author, NOT ME PLEASE ==
-pluto
Bua Lamphu
2006-09-05 03:20:00 UTC
Permalink
In the US, the wife of a criminal released out of jail had to tie a yellow
ribbon to show that she wanted him/her back or not ("Tie a yellow ribbon
roung the old oak tree).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_ribbon

Hmmmmmmmmmm...........................

Would Somchai's lil'darling tie a yellow ribbon, or would she rather let the
racist criminal be for what he really is and take a REAL man?
Post by John & Su
Funny, in Belgium someone that wear yellow clothes are supposed to be
cuckoo.
Post by pluto
Thursday August 31, 2006 Previous | Next
How did yellow come to refer to a cowardly person?
Mary
Sandy Hook, Connecticut
"What are ya, yellow?" Well, that depends, because the color can
symbolize
many
Post by pluto
things. Fortunately, most of them are positive. For instance, a yellow
rose is a
Post by pluto
sign of friendship, and a yellow ribbon during wartime signifies hope and
loyalty. However, as fans of Western films are no doubt aware, the color
can
Post by pluto
also mean cowardice.
This site on figures of speech has a theory on the metaphor's origin. The
site
Post by pluto
says it has nothing to do with a person's perceived color. Rather, it's a
nod to
Post by pluto
the legendary yellowbelly lizard, a reptile apparently not known for its
intestinal fortitude (aka "guts"). The story goes that when confronted,
the
Post by pluto
yellowbelly lizard "exits on its belly as soon as possible."
Sounds reasonable, but the Straight Dope believes the expression began as
a
Post by pluto
medical term. Way back when, the human body was thought to have four
distinct
Post by pluto
fluids -- blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. According to
medieval
Post by pluto
medicine, yellow bile "made you peevish, choleric, irascible."
Interestingly, not all cultures equate yellow with cowardice. In Japan,
the
Post by pluto
color actually signifies courage, and in China, yellow was once an
official
Post by pluto
symbol of the emperor.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20060831.html
==end, and/or end quote || When replying respond to the original author,
NOT ME PLEASE ==
Post by pluto
-pluto
John & Su
2006-09-05 15:29:38 UTC
Permalink
Eh eh eh ... only God know the answer. :)
Post by Bua Lamphu
In the US, the wife of a criminal released out of jail had to tie a yellow
ribbon to show that she wanted him/her back or not ("Tie a yellow ribbon
roung the old oak tree).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_ribbon
Hmmmmmmmmmm...........................
Would Somchai's lil'darling tie a yellow ribbon, or would she rather let the
racist criminal be for what he really is and take a REAL man?
Post by John & Su
Funny, in Belgium someone that wear yellow clothes are supposed to be
cuckoo.
Post by pluto
Thursday August 31, 2006 Previous | Next
How did yellow come to refer to a cowardly person?
Mary
Sandy Hook, Connecticut
"What are ya, yellow?" Well, that depends, because the color can
symbolize
many
Post by pluto
things. Fortunately, most of them are positive. For instance, a yellow
rose is a
Post by pluto
sign of friendship, and a yellow ribbon during wartime signifies hope and
loyalty. However, as fans of Western films are no doubt aware, the color
can
Post by pluto
also mean cowardice.
This site on figures of speech has a theory on the metaphor's origin. The
site
Post by pluto
says it has nothing to do with a person's perceived color. Rather, it's a
nod to
Post by pluto
the legendary yellowbelly lizard, a reptile apparently not known for its
intestinal fortitude (aka "guts"). The story goes that when confronted,
the
Post by pluto
yellowbelly lizard "exits on its belly as soon as possible."
Sounds reasonable, but the Straight Dope believes the expression began as
a
Post by pluto
medical term. Way back when, the human body was thought to have four
distinct
Post by pluto
fluids -- blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. According to
medieval
Post by pluto
medicine, yellow bile "made you peevish, choleric, irascible."
Interestingly, not all cultures equate yellow with cowardice. In Japan,
the
Post by pluto
color actually signifies courage, and in China, yellow was once an
official
Post by pluto
symbol of the emperor.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20060831.html
==end, and/or end quote || When replying respond to the original author,
NOT ME PLEASE ==
Post by pluto
-pluto
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