The expression I’m stumped meaning “stuck or unable to proceed, usually referring to being confounded by a puzzle” is a strange expression to say the least.
The word “stump” is common in the English language referring to the base of a tree that has been cut down. But how did this word make its way into an expression meaning “puzzled”? The following will give some common theories regarding the origin of this expression.
I’m stumpedBaixar o áudio
Enquanto você lê
Ler sobre inglês não é falar inglês.
Em 200 horas a gente tira você do “entendo mas não falo”. Descubra em qual módulo você entra.
O que mudou foi ter ordem. Antes eu estudava solto.
The first theory says that this phrase originated during the time when the road system was first being developed in the United States. According to this theory, the stumps of sawn down trees could not be any taller than 15 inches. However, when the rains came, the soil softened and the wagons would get stuck and be unable to proceed. This theory, along with being confusing in itself, is not considered accurate.
A more reliable theory is that the expression comes from when plows would get stuck when they hit tree stumps when plowing through fields. However, a couple of things about this phrase are certain: it originated in the United States and it became popular sometime in the 19th century.
Deixe um comentário