Use to indicate either doing well in something or very poorly. A term that has become more and more prevelant in society over the past century. It originally began in the Middle Ages, when mimes (common performers in the medieval theatre or production) that performed poorly were often ordered lashed (known as "stroking" back then) with a
whip by the
local Bishop. As society developed and advanced, the
whip was eventually phased out, however, mimes were unfortunately not. The negative meaning came from the disgraceful
act of harming the enterainer (mime). However, as time moved on, and some aspects of society began to dislike and look down on the miming arts, this saying became postively used by members of the anti-mime movement. Today, it is often used in theatre, particularly in the mime entertainer community to describe a performance.
This phrase was often used by several well-known
people in recent
history such as Charles Lindbergh, Al Capone and U.S. President Harry S. Truman.
