释义 |
harum-scarum, adv., a., and n. colloq.|ˈhɛərəmˈskɛərəm| Also 7–9 harum-starum, 8 hare'um scare'um, hairum-scairum, 8–9 harem-scarem. [A riming combination, app. f. hare v.2 + scare v., sometimes taken as = hare 'em, scare 'em.] A. adv. Recklessly, heedlessly, wildly. ? Obs.
1674–91Ray S. & E.C. Words 101 To Hare, to affright or make wild; to go harum starum. 1740Round about our Coal Fire i. (Farmer), While Tom run harum scarum to draw a jug of ale. 1785Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue s.v., Running harum scarum, said of any one running or walking carelessly..and in a hurry, after they know not what. 1803J. Porter Thaddeus xii. (1831) 114, I should not like a son of mine to run harum-scarum through my property. B. adj. Reckless, careless, heedless in action; wild rash. (Of persons and their actions.)
1751Smollett Per. Pic. (1779) I. viii. 71 Such a hare'um scare'um blood of a bitch. 1780F. Burney Diary May, He seemed a mighty rattling harem-scarem gentleman. 1801M. Edgeworth Belinda iii. (D.), What I call harum-scarum manners. 1832Lytton Eugene A. ii. vii, A dissolute, harum-scarum fellow..always in debt. 1861Ld. R. Montagu Mirror in America 66 A mere harum-scarum scramble after the whim of the hour is not government. C. n. a. A reckless, unregulated person. b. Reckless action or behaviour.
1784Unfortunate Sensibility I. 39 More mischief..than such a hare'em scare'em as I could accomplish in twenty years. 1868Holme Lee B. Godfrey xxvi. 133 His reminiscences of Basil as a handsome harum-scarum. 1886E. L. Bynner A. Surriage i. 11 Had a tidal wave swept over the rocks and played at harum-scarum? 1896J. Morley in Daily News 18 June 3/3 Instead of humdrum you..have got harum scarum. Hence harum-ˈscarumness, recklessness.
1863Hawthorne Our Old Home (1883) I. 345 Accustomed to a life-long luxury of dirt and harum-scarumness. 1883L. Wingfield A. Rowe I. ii. 35 A reckless Hibernian harum-scarumness in pecuniary matters. |