Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Search
Listen on:
Follow me:
Home » Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Search
Advanced Search
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Search
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
The tony part of town
Guest
1
2009/02/24 - 3:17pm
Print

I came across this phrase recently and was left a bit puzzled by it. A quick Google search suggests that it's a fairly common phrase, but I've never heard it used before, and wonder why it's called "tony." I'm guessing from context that it means the rich side of town. Any thoughts/info? Thanks!

Guest
2
2009/02/24 - 7:43pm
Print

A Tony is a trophe given to people doing american theator in recognition of their contribution

Grant Barrett
San Diego, California
1532 Posts
(Offline)
3
2009/02/24 - 7:57pm
Print

Matt, they're not related. The award is named after Antoinette Perry and American actress and producer who died in 1946. "Tony," meaning fashionable or stylish, dates to the 19th Century and comes from the noun "tone," as in being "high-toned."

Guest
4
2009/02/24 - 8:19pm
Print

tony
1877, Amer.Eng. slang, from high-toned. It was the name of a reddish-brown fashion color in the 1920s.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=tony

Guest
5
2009/02/25 - 6:29pm
Print

Oh my, I'm so embarrassed that I could have just looked "tony" up in the dictionary. Oh well -- I've still been bragging all day that I got a personal response from Grant Barnett. That totally made my day! :^D

Guest
6
2009/02/26 - 10:58pm
Print

Could it have some relation to the German word Ton? - as in Der Gute Ton = good manners or good breeding. - I.e. the for-the-purportedly-well-bred part of town. "High-toned" would certainly fit in with that theory.

Forum Timezone: UTC -7
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
A Conversation with Dr Astein Osei
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1268
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 58
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Menu

Recent posts