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On the light fantastick toe, In Milton's use the word "trip" means to "dance nimbly" and "fantastic" suggests "extremely fancy". "Light fantastic" refers to the word toe, and "toe" refers to a dancer's "footwork". "Toe" has since disappeared from the idiom, which then becomes: "trip the light fantastic". [6]
Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase 'trip the light fantastic', which means to dance, especially in an imaginative or 'fantastic' manner. Find out how John Milton used it in his works and how it evolved over time.
Aug 10, 2022 · Learn how the phrase trip the light fantastic, meaning nimble, fleet-footed dancing, evolved from a literal expression in Renaissance poetry to a metaphorical one in modern culture. Discover its appearances in literature, music, and film, and its variations and controversies.
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Trip the light fantastic is an imaginative idiomatic phrase that refers to lively movement. It evokes a vivid image of graceful and joyful movement, often associated with dancing. Its origins can be traced back to the poem “L’Allegro” by John Milton, written in 1631.
- English Teacher
Learn the meanings and origins of seven phrases from the world of dance, such as tango, waltz, and two left feet. Find out how trip the light fantastic, a phrase from John Milton's poem, became a slang term for raves or disco.
Learn the meaning and origin of the phrase \"trip the light fantastic\", which means to dance nimbly and gracefully. See how it was used by Shakespeare, Milton and other authors, and how it relates to the word \"fantastic\".
'Trip the light fantastic' means to dance nimbly and gracefully. Strictly speaking, it represents an adaptation of a poetical concept that was coined by Milton in L’Allegro (1632): "Come, and trip it, as you go, on the light fantastick toe."
