![]() (Another common English word is derived from schurke: shirk, which means to get out of, or cheat, one’s responsibilities. For instance, a con man posing as a preacher in the Old West might be known as a “gospel sharp.” “Shark” in this regard comes from schurke, a German word that means “a cheater.” A “card sharp,” then, could very well also be a “card shark.” ![]() Card Sharks features two players who face off in a head-to-head elimination game. “Sharping” is a 19 th century slang word that meant “swindling.” It was used in a variety of activities, not just gambling. Card Sharks: With Joel McHale, Jerry Wolf, Alexis Gaube, Donna Jay Fulks. Oddly enough, both “card shark” and “card sharp” make sense in their usages. “Card sharp” dates back to the 1880s, the time of Wild West saloons and card rooms, but had evolved into “card shark” by the 1940s, long before Card Sharks could have solidified the change. Examples of this phenomenon: How people use “literally” to describe something figurative, but with dramatic zest (“I was so embarrassed I literally died”) or how things that are just coincidences are deemed “ironic.” Sometimes the language authorities (dictionary makers, and usually the people behind the Oxford English Dictionary) throw their hands up and make an inaccurate usage of a word “officially” acceptable because so many people do it. While card shark is now considered an acceptable term for a savvy cardsman, it’s only because of the evolution of language, derived from card sharp. Hosted by Jim Perry, were contestants are asked questions about how 100 people answered a poll question then played a card game where they tried to guess whether the next card drawn from a deck in a sequence would be higher or lower. Also, Card Sharks was a popular, cards-themed TV game show in the 1970s and ’80s. Card Sharks: With Jim Perry, Janice Baker, Gene Wood, Lois Hamilton. ![]() What would you call a person who is really good at playing card games? Probably a “card shark,” right? Of course you would-“shark” is a common term for somebody who succeeds thanks to a steely, hunter-like focus. This one concerns a common slang term that’s been mangled over the years. The road to glory and riches begins with two players facing off in a head-to-head. Based on the card game Acey Deucey, two players face off on the series, each hoping to eliminate the other. A game show where a turn of a playing card can make one a winner or a loser. In which Uncle John corrects widespread grammatical and language abominations. Airing on the ABC television network, the Card Sharks TV series is hosted by Joel McHale. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |