Street scene…
On the seafront.
It was a beautiful morning but clouded over a bit by lunchtime. So what could I do with a slightly cloudy afternoon I wondered. My imagination was running riot but after the delicious lunch I had at the Community Roast I decided to put my feet up and chill;-))
So my saying of the day is ‘my imagination is running riot’.
The expression "my imagination is running riot" originates from the idiom "run riot," which has been used since the early 16th century to describe uncontrolled or unrestrained behaviour.. Initially, "run riot" referred to physical disorder and unruliness, like people behaving violently in public. Over time, the phrase extended to describe the uncontrolled workings of the mind, particularly the imagination, where it signifies a vivid and unrestrained flow of thoughts and ideas.
Here's a breakdown of the expression's development:
Early Usage:
The phrase "run riot" first appeared in John Fitzherbert's "The Boke of Husbandry" in 1523, referring to the literal sense of unruliness and disorder, specifically in the context of farming.
Over time, the meaning broadened to include the uncontrolled growth of plants and, more relevantly, the unrestrained activity of the mind.
Imagination Takes Flight:
When applied to the imagination, "run riot" signifies a vivid and uncontrolled stream of thoughts, often leading to creative or chaotic mental landscapes.
Figurative Language:
The phrase is a metaphor, comparing the uncontrolled nature of the imagination to the wild and disorderly behavior associated with a riot.
In essence, the phrase "my imagination is running riot" captures the idea of a mind unleashed, producing a multitude of ideas, images, and possibilities without restraint.
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