Comments on: Coming Down the Pike http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:41:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Peter Samuel http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/comment-page-1/#comment-391086 Peter Samuel Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:38:21 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2579#comment-391086 Ms Maddox: you wrote: "Originally “turnpike” meant a toll booth, but came to mean the highway itself." Not quite. My understanding is the turnpike was not the toll booth as such but the toll gate which often consisted of a thin pole called a 'pike' (for spear). The 'pike' barred passage by the toll booth or toll house until the toll was paid to the toll collector. Then the gate or pike was turned (hence turn-pike) so that the rider or carriage could proceed. Peter Samuel editor TOLLROADSnews.com Ms Maddox: you wrote: “Originally “turnpike” meant a toll booth, but came to mean the highway itself.”

Not quite. My understanding is the turnpike was not the toll booth as such but the toll gate which often consisted of a thin pole called a ‘pike’ (for spear). The ‘pike’ barred passage by the toll booth or toll house until the toll was paid to the toll collector. Then the gate or pike was turned (hence turn-pike) so that the rider or carriage could proceed.

Peter Samuel
editor TOLLROADSnews.com

]]> By: Genius http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/comment-page-1/#comment-388748 Genius Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:58:27 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2579#comment-388748 Obviously the baseball term is "down the pipe". I'm 23 and have played baseball for 14 years. I still laugh at people who think it's called "down the pike"! Obviously the baseball term is “down the pipe”. I’m 23 and have played baseball for 14 years. I still laugh at people who think it’s called “down the pike”!

]]> By: Theresa http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/comment-page-1/#comment-309289 Theresa Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:24:13 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2579#comment-309289 I have always said and heard that the expression is "coming down the pike" for what is new. For example, "she catches everything coming down the pike" for someone who routinely catches every disease, etc. And that calling a strike in baseball is a ball that is thrown "right down the pipe" or over the plate. I have always said and heard that the expression is “coming down the pike” for what is new. For example, “she catches everything coming down the pike” for someone who routinely catches every disease, etc. And that calling a strike in baseball is a ball that is thrown “right down the pipe” or over the plate.

]]> By: Flo http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/comment-page-1/#comment-282031 Flo Thu, 20 May 2010 17:33:57 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2579#comment-282031 For all you "pikers" http://www.word-detective.com/092906C.html For all you “pikers”

http://www.word-detective.com/092906C.html

]]> By: Todd http://www.dailywritingtips.com/coming-down-the-pike/comment-page-1/#comment-281756 Todd Thu, 20 May 2010 00:31:45 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=2579#comment-281756 "The Pike" was the entertainment center of the 1904 World's Fair in St Louis. Something "coming down the Pike" was something, as in a parade, for example, specifically coming down the Pike. That's where the phrase originated. “The Pike” was the entertainment center of the 1904 World’s Fair in St Louis. Something “coming down the Pike” was something, as in a parade, for example, specifically coming down the Pike. That’s where the phrase originated.

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