To speak “point blank”—very directly—is French in origin and comes to us from the game of archery.
We all know that hitting the center of the target is the best possible shot. On the target, the center is indicated by a small, round white spot, which in French is called the point-blanc or, in English, “white spot.” To hit the point-blanc requires a skillfully executed, straight, and true shot. When archery became a popular sport in England, the French point-blanc was adopted by English archers and became the “point blank.”
—Common Phrases and Where They Come From written by John Mordock & Myron Korach
point blank
A variant forms pime blank, pine blank, pint blank, plime blank, plum (b) blank. [DARE pime blank chiefly sAppalachians, esp eastern Kentucky, pine blank chiefly S Midl, esp sAppalachians; pint blank chiefly South Midland; plime blank chiefly sAppalachians, esp eastern Kentucky]
B adjective phrase Exact, precise.
1937 Hall Coll. Cades Cove TN Pint blank proof [of illicit liquor making] was necessary for an arrest (Dave Sparks) 1963 Edwards Gravel 134 And among them wuz a little sorrel mare with white feet and a white spot on her forred, and follerin her wuz a colt that wuz the pimeblank image of its maw.
[DARE South Midland]
C adverb phrase Exactly, directly, positively.
1913 Kephart Our Sthn High 286 “P’int-blank” is a superlative or an epithet: “We jist p’int-blank got it to do.” 1961 Williams Content Mt Speech 15 Atter a while the little oddlin’ begun to look plime blank like its grampappy. 1974 Fink Bits Mt Speech 19 I told ’em no—pint blank. 1961 Medford History Haywood Co 34 I can hit a squirrel pine blank in the head on the highest limb with this here gun, yes-siree! 1978 Montgomery White Pine Coll. II-3 Things get twisted around, if you’re not point-blank open and explain. 1993 Sosebee Wordlist He looked pime blank like Billy. 1998 Brewer Don’t Scrouge “Plime blank” in our neck of the woods was “pint-blank.” it means “exactly” or “right on target” (in other words, “point blank”). “That boy’s pint blank like his daddy” or “that rock hit him pint blank on the nose,” for example . . . . When we started with “plime blank” month or two ago, I had no notion there were so may variation of it scattered from one holler to the next in Southern Appalachia. We’ve had “plime blank,” “plum blank,” “plumb blank,” and “pint blank.”
[OED point blank C2a now rare or obsolete; Web3 archaic; DARE South Midland, esp sAppalachians]
Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English
Pap used point blank often do describe something exact or something that positively had to (or needed to) be completed. The Deer Hunter uses it too. I never knew about the French connection.
Today’s Thankful November giveaway is a used copy of Common Phrases and Where They Come From written by John Mordock & Myron Korach. Leave a comment on this post to be entered. *Giveaway ends November 27, 2023.
Last night’s video: Sharing Old Pictures for Thanksgiving & How to Make an Easy Photo Holder.
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I use point blank in my vocabulary. Without you Tipper, I would never have known it originated from archery and French language. Thank you for this interesting information.
Had no idea of the origin of point blank!! Around here people use it referring mainly to speech and being direct! Thanks for The Blind Pig and all I’ve learned!! God’s blessings to all!
I’m just seeing this post as I’m catching up. My Great-Grandpa Vines (N. AL, fam via Carolinas) was often quoted as saying “I’ll swear pine – blank!” My Grandmother often said it, as well as other family members.
I am also fascinated with word and phrase origins and hope it isn’t too late to be considered for the give-away for Common Phrases. As always, I love reading the comments.
Well I point blank commented on the wrong post about Appalachian sayings, but here I am on the right one now.
I will tell you point blank that I would like to win this giveaway.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends.
Praying for Grandma Wilson , Pressley and Wilson families. Hilary H,
I’m from eastern Kentucky and I’ve heard “point blank” used all my life. It’s very common where I’m from.
I’ve heard and used that phrase all my life, but never knew the French origin. It’s very interesting and does make sense. Hope you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!
My youngest brother uses the expression point blank all the time. I appreciate your research, Tipper. Perhaps I will share it with him. Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving .
I enjoy finding the origin of word or phrases too! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all the blind pig and the acorn writers and readers!!!!!
Oops. Original post reappeared. So now I know how it works.
Your videos about Appalachian language are always so interesting. The “Common Phrases” book sounds like a gem.
I guess I’m point blank when it comes to saying what I think. Sometimes it gets me in the notion that I need to pray for and ask forgiveness if my words come out too strong. I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I thank God that He looks beyond my faults and sees my needs.
I really enjoy hearing about all the southern sayings. Most I have heard but many are new to me. I have heard the saying “paddling” around with the same meaning. Not sure if they are related.
I just love the vocabulary information you share with us. Although I’ve heard a lot of what you share with us, I often don’t know the origins for the word or saying. Tipper you share your knowledge so freely and I appreciate it so much. Continued prayers for you and your family!
LOVE these connections!!!
Happy Thanksgiving Y’all!!!!
A friend who lives next door to her daughter and five grandsons told this: one of the boys was told to go ask Gramma for some milk and don’t dilly dally. He went, asked for the milk, then explained, “I can’t dilly daddy”. Lol.
I’d love to know where that expression comes from.
So fun & interesting!!! Would enjoy learning other origins in the book !!!
Thank you for sharing!!! Blessings on everyone’s Thanksgiving preparations!!
Loved the blog last night !
“Common Phrases …” would be a wonderful source when I quiz my grandsons (ages 12 and 8) about frequently heard words and phrases and their meanings. it’s a playful learning experience for all of us.
The most prominent bullseye in America is the TARGET logo, which usually has a red center (though store location maps use a white centered point blanc) and a corporate policy that forbids ever Ever, EVER including an arrow or dart or bullet hole in any of their store promotions. The way we use words and symbols, whether they convey directness or blunt accuracy or merely promise to fulfill everything and anything we can imagine wanting or “needing” is worth paying for with a moment or two of our close attention. Words matter. Symbols matter. How we put them to use, the old and new ways and “whys” we alter them is as interesting and revealing as where they originated. I greatly enjoy learning from the language of our places and ancestors. It brings light to what is changing around me. That change is plime blank, plum blank, right on target, even if it violates corporate policy or might make the consumer uncomfortable.
We use point blank and never thought about where it originated. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you also for sharing those wonderful pictures last night and the picture holders Matt made are so nice. Such a sweet and thoughtful thing to do. I know the family will love seeing all the pictures and the special memories that come with them.
Down here in Southern Maryland it is not uncommon to hear folks answering the phone with a “Yellow?” instead of “Hello” I often wonder if it’s a relic of people saying “Yell low”, as in “not so” loud. Just a guess.
Tipper, your generosity is astounding. May God reward you for your every kind and gracious word and deed.
“Common Phrases and Where They Come From,” written by John Mordock & Myron Korach, seems like a celebration of the rich and varied use of language. I sincerely hope that the person to whom it is given enjoys reading it for years to come.
P.S. I continue to ask Jesus to comfort, encourage and strengthen you and your family.
Morning, Tipper! I have used “point blank” in my conversations most of my adult life and I’m 74 so it’s not new to me. It would be interesting to read the book you are offering today. I hope Granny is feeling good. God’s blessings on you all!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving everybody with heaping helpings of love and sweet memories and joyful anticipation of good things to come.
As for “point blank” and its variations, I note that 2 examples are from southeast KY where I grew up. I have heard one or both of those and used one or maybe both all my life. But if you stopped me cold and challenged, “Spell that!” I’d be stumped. I couldn’t say then and can’t say now whether with or without an “l”. But whichever, we never had any trouble knowing what was meant!
This just goes to further show we are all mixed breeds. We are all Heinz 57’s especially in speech and mannerisms. At my house we mostly speak our version of English. There’s also Spanish, German and sometimes French thrown in.
Learn something new every day. Haha, I wonder how that expression came to be. Would love to be lucky enough to win this book. Thanks!
I’ve heard “point blank” all my life and never knew where it came from. Word origins are really interesting. Happy Thanksgiving, Tipper, to you and all your family.
I’ve used “point blank” my whole life but never knew why or from where the saying originated. Strange to me that it is a French archery term rather than a hunting term, but it makes a point, no matter. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Pressleys. Love you all.
Pime blank is an eastern Kentucky word that’s as common as bib ‘overhalls’. Plime blank is just as common.
I have heard that as long as I can remember.
I have heard and even used the phrase “point blank” for many years and always wondered what it really meant…!!! It’s always good to know the origin of sayings and phrases—thanks for sharing this…!!!!!
Don’t forget to watch The Daffy Duck Thanks For Giving Special.
I’ve heard point blank and I’m sure I’ve used it at some point in my younger life. I had no idea it was from the French. I do enjoy learning where words or phases come from. I think that is just one of the many reasons why I enjoy your blogs, you are always learning me something. Thank you!
I wonder how much a persons accent and memory when the word or phrase is told and then repeated has to do with all the variations. I enjoy when you read about words their meanings and all the variations. Fascinating.
It’s point blank a beautiful day here in the Blue Ridge Mountains this morning. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
It’s always interesting to learns the origin of words or expressions. The Appalachian culture has so many great ones but it’s amazing to discover the variations, even in other countries!
Have heard “point blank” used all my life; I also found it to be mixed in with “military terminology” ……..
Point blank has come to mean from a close distance, “point blank range”. I don’t think I have ever noticed anyone using pime blank, pine blank, pint blank, plime blank or plum blank. I do say plum center though which might very well derive from this origin.
Point blank is a great 2 word combo to describe exactness. Btw, archery ain’t for weaklings. It literally beat me down and my arms grow so tired. Lol I also use the term to tell people what I think. Ex:“I’m telling ya point blank that will never happen!” It lets a person know I’m not whistling Dixie and do indeed mean business! We have so many good sayings around these hills, who’d ever dream of running off forever? I’m proud of Appalachia and proud of being raised here. I been all over the world and never tire of hearing folks say “hillbillies are the salt of the earth-they are!” I’d be rich if I had 10$ every time I’ve heard that. And you know what-I BELIEVE IT! Gods blessings to each of you this Thanksgiving as we lift our hearts, gratitude, and worship toward our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son from whom all good things come down from His heavenly light. Praise Jesus for Granny doing so well and Katie with her little young’un coming right along! Jesus love to you all! The way I see it we are all winners for finding Tipper’s AWESOME blog.
We have used point blank for as long as I can remember. Grandma would say “I’m onna tell you point blank that has got to be fixed.” I loved the memory this stirred up. Tipper, you are good at stirring memories up, as well as all the BPA readers. I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and be safe if you are traveling. Love and prayers to all of you and Granny and Little Mama too. Now, let the baking begin! Pies, cakes, breads, sides, sweet potatoes…….oh my!
How fascinating. I never knew the French connection. I use that phrase at times.
Again, you have shared the origin of a word I grew up hearing often and I never knew the French connection! What an interesting book that must be! Thanks for sharing it!
That’s interesting I’m English and never heard it used as such here in the U.K ‘ To Be Honest’ 🙂 . Point blank or ‘point blank range’ in my experience means shooting or firing close up to a target. The centre part of a target roundle is referred to as the ‘bulls eye’ and also the centre of a Dart Board uses the same name. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Point blank clears any confusion!
Good morning Tipper.
I just watched your video of Matt making your photo holders and all the old photos you are sharing. It was fun taking a look into your past through the pictures. Every time I get into old photos, I end up in there for hours. I know your family will love them. What a clever way to present them around your house and a nice gift for the person that takes each picture home. I think it would be fun to have a few sitting around all the time and change the photos around frequently. This would be a great way to get them out of my boxes for everyone to see. Thanks for the idea—Now, if I can just get my hubby to make me some. .
Very interesting. I have heard variations of point blank but never thought about its origin. Love hearing these definitions.
My grandfather said point blank a lot. It is very interesting to learn how and where all these sayings originated. Wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving – we do have so much to be thankful for!
Happy Thanksgiving Eve!
I’ve always been fascinated by words and their origins and meanings thanks for the giveaway chance !
I love common phrases from anywhere and especially from Appalachia. I even have my sis interested even though she does not follow your blog–she follows her grandchildren too much 🙂 Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish a common saying’s origin, but then sometimes they are very obviously from our neck of the woods. One that comes to mind is when you recognize a person is caught up in their importance, one might say they think they are the “cock of the walk.” On look up, the origin is unknown, but it just sounds like it came right out of one of the hollers where I grew up. 🙂 I sure love your blog, and my sis loves it through my sharing with her. I always said you would be famous one day, Tipper. and you are halfway there.
Point blank is all my family ever used. I’ve heard most of the variations over the years so I think I’d understand no matter which way you said it. I took two years of French under Lillian Thomasson so I could have told you what point-blanc meant (and little else).
My dad trained me and my sister to shoot with his 22 rifle. We had to hit the C on a Campbell soup can “pint blank” at 100 feet. He also said zink for sink and bile for boil. My mother’s favorite term when us children were naughty was “I’ll be a suck egg mule!” I never heard her curse. That was the extent of her expression of anger
We have used an old saying forever ( it’s just a hop and a jump) meaning, it’s not very far. I love the old saying and different terms people use, where this one comes from I couldn’t say.
Betty,
We always say “It’s just a hop, skip and a jump”. Very similar.
I love the old sayings and often find myself saying them even more so the older I get. I find myself on an almost daily basis quoting my Grandpa Fox. Such wisdom I was blessed to have in my life.
I use the term point blank and my ancestors did too. Wonder if something else in that book tells about terms I might be using? It would be fun to find out. Maybe I’ll win the book….
Carolyn
I’ve used the term point blank as well, it was interesting to learn where this term came from!
the origin of words and expressions is fascinating…
I noticed the word forred used for forehead in the writings you shared. My Mother used the that term only it sounded like “fard”. Examples: He had a high fard. That rock hit him right in the fard.
I say it like Daddy did. Sounds like far/id.
Daddy also said harse /härs/ for horse. He also said agg for egg and lag for leg.
With the phonetically spellings we know how they talked and each area one sounds different from the other some.
I just love this blog. Common phrases and where they started is just downright interesting!!
Happy Thanksgiving to every one of you!
That sounds like such an interesting book! I often wonder where our figures of speech come from.
Point blank sounds a million times better than ” to be honest”, which sounds like everything else they say is a lie…
It’s always interesting to find the origin of common phrases. Some make a lot of sense with an obvious connection.
Interesting (as are most of your posts). Would enjoy the book being gifted to a lucky subscriber. Happy Thanksgiving one and all.
while I have heard Pounds Blank forever, I had no idea it was from archery or French
Having 2 sons that are teachers of history and language – I found this so interesting and I know they would as well! Love all your posts Tipper. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Our languages and the phrases from each are so interconnected. I would really enjoy the copy of Common Phrases and Where They Come From.
Everyone have a Blessed Happy Thanksgiving!!
Well, I’ll be! We use that phrase all the time and never knew it had a French connection. Tipper, our momma used a phrase we still use and I wonder if you’ve heard it? Paddin’ An example of how she used it. “We were so busy at work I was paddin’ those halls all night long. ” Our meaning for it is quickly walking back and forth. Just wondering if anyone else uses it and where it might have come from?
Have a blessed day!!
Debbie-I’ve not heard that usage. Thank you for sharing it! Hopefully someone else has and will chime in 🙂
I looked up Pad as a verb.
Showes orgin to be
Low German.
walking with steady steps
making a dull soft sound.
“She padded along the corridor.”
Similar: Walk quitely.
travel along (a road or route).
“he was padding the street”.
Thank you for sharing this! Papaw said we had black Dutch in our history which is of German origin. I guess it makes sense. Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
Debbie I left out the meaning of Low German. (Northern German) it means the word is more related to the Dutch.
I hope this helps.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving
Betty, I always heard “hop, skip, and a jump” to mean the same thing. I guess we were just verbose. :>
I studied German for 5 years. It’s my understanding the high German was the urban or ‘citified’ version of the language and low German was the rural or ‘country-fied’ version. I’ve also seen high German used to identify the language of those who lived in the mountains of Bavaria or Austria.
I think I have heard paddin in connection with walking quickly but quietly, like a third shift nurse at the hospital. I presumed it to mean walking only on the pads of your feet so as not wake the patients and cause yourself more trouble. Tippy-toeing, walking on the balls of your feet, Indian walking
Papaw, she was a night shift nurse so that makes perfect sense! Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Yes ma’am. Grew up in southeast KY hearing “paddin”. Glad you brought it up as I had not heard it in a long while. Somehow in my mind it is mostly connected with the sound of barefoot children walking on a wooden floor at nightime when they are supposed to be asleep. But of course the word got used for walking in other situations.
Momma was from southeast/eastern KY as well. Yes! Barefoot on the floor boards at night. Thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving!
In addition to the usages pointed out by others, you also find the word pad in footpad, a robber in 18th-19th century England who would creep quietly up on his victims on foot, as opposed to the more glamorous highwayman on his horse. (I remembered this from something I read long ago.) Presumably, he would be able to get close enough to shoot his victim at point blank range.
(I could be wrong on the dates.)
I just tried adding a clarification to my post and the original post seems to have disappeared.
In addition to the previously mentioned usages, pad is also found in the word footpad, a robber in 17th-18th (?) century England, who would quietly creep up on his victims on foot in order to rob them, as opposed to the highwayman who rode a horse. Presumably, the footpad would be able to get close enough to his victims to shoot them at point blank range. (I wondered how I was going to work that in there.) Happy Thanksgiving and blessings to all!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I had no idea! Happy Thanksgiving!
I love learning about word origins. Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone.
I love the Appalachian sayings. I have heard of point blank here in KY.