Fell pregnant

[Wishimaywishimight]

Anyone know where this phrase originated? I think I first came across it in 'wimmins' magazines - Chat, Take a Break etc. It always sounds a bit odd to me - like it's something that just happened without any input from the person in question. For some reason, like many innocent sayings, it irritates me.

I don't have access to the OED online but I've found a few references that suggest it gives a usage dating back to at least the 1700s. An interesting forum post from elsewhere (from 2008!)
www.wordwizard.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?t=20391&start=30#p62263

It's an old old use.
A bit like fallen from grace, fell into temptation etc.

It’s archaic, but still used on MN and more widely.

@picklemewalnuts - that's so sad, it makes pregnancy sound like something unpleasant.

Thank you @MonsignorMirth - that made for really interesting reading!

I think it was originally more of an accidental or inconvenient pregnancy referred to.
It's now used more widely, perhaps. Pregnancy can be a bit of a slip up.

I cannot stand the phrase, it really grates on me.

Same as 'we're pregnant'. Vomit 🤮

@idontlikealdi

I agree. Everything I hear this I find myself saying/ranting "we" are not fucking pregnant. Is he going to grow a bump and give birth in 9 months?? No, he's fucking not so there ye go, one of you is pregnant, the other is not.

PG for pregnant makes me wince.
What does it even stand for?

Just makes me think of Les Dawson in his "gossiping over the fence" persona.

Any why 'The covid' or @The cancer@ e.g. he causght the covid, she has the cancer...)

@wtaf37

Any why 'The covid' or *@The* cancer@ e.g. he causght the covid, she has the cancer...)

Sorry, my spelling went to pot there (not good in pedants' corner!)

Google says

Likely biblical in origin

Does seem related to fallen woman

Removes male responsibility

@wtaf37

Any why 'The covid' or *@The* cancer@ e.g. he causght the covid, she has the cancer...)

I've only recently seen 'the covid' on mn but something that always annoys me is 'the flu', as in 'she caught the flu.'

No one talks about 'the influenza' so why call it 'the flu'?