What's the origin of the expression “(can't) hack it”?
From Collins:
phrase
If you say that someone can't hack it or couldn't hack it, you
mean that they do not or did not have the qualities needed to do a
task or cope with a situation.
[informal]
You have to be strong and
confident, and never give the slightest impression that you can't hack
it.
hack
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright ©
HarperCollins Publishers
Is it only a variation of "(can't) cut it" or does it trace its roots
back to another place?
etymology
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
add a comment |
From Collins:
phrase
If you say that someone can't hack it or couldn't hack it, you
mean that they do not or did not have the qualities needed to do a
task or cope with a situation.
[informal]
You have to be strong and
confident, and never give the slightest impression that you can't hack
it.
hack
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright ©
HarperCollins Publishers
Is it only a variation of "(can't) cut it" or does it trace its roots
back to another place?
etymology
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
1
it's astonishing you did not realize that: the image you posted was tremendously too large beyond social norms.
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:29
It's a phone screenshot. I was in a pinch.
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:13
Copy and paste the definition? Screen readers, i.e. the programme used by many blind or people whose eyesight is severely impaired, do not read images.
– Mari-Lou A
Sep 27 '17 at 10:33
I would say there's about a 50% chance that the term is derived from American baseball (or possibly British cricket).
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
add a comment |
From Collins:
phrase
If you say that someone can't hack it or couldn't hack it, you
mean that they do not or did not have the qualities needed to do a
task or cope with a situation.
[informal]
You have to be strong and
confident, and never give the slightest impression that you can't hack
it.
hack
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright ©
HarperCollins Publishers
Is it only a variation of "(can't) cut it" or does it trace its roots
back to another place?
etymology
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
From Collins:
phrase
If you say that someone can't hack it or couldn't hack it, you
mean that they do not or did not have the qualities needed to do a
task or cope with a situation.
[informal]
You have to be strong and
confident, and never give the slightest impression that you can't hack
it.
hack
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright ©
HarperCollins Publishers
Is it only a variation of "(can't) cut it" or does it trace its roots
back to another place?
etymology
etymology
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
edited 1 hour ago
Hot Licks
19.1k23677
19.1k23677
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
asked Sep 26 '17 at 16:45
DanielDaniel
237315
237315
1
it's astonishing you did not realize that: the image you posted was tremendously too large beyond social norms.
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:29
It's a phone screenshot. I was in a pinch.
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:13
Copy and paste the definition? Screen readers, i.e. the programme used by many blind or people whose eyesight is severely impaired, do not read images.
– Mari-Lou A
Sep 27 '17 at 10:33
I would say there's about a 50% chance that the term is derived from American baseball (or possibly British cricket).
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1
it's astonishing you did not realize that: the image you posted was tremendously too large beyond social norms.
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:29
It's a phone screenshot. I was in a pinch.
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:13
Copy and paste the definition? Screen readers, i.e. the programme used by many blind or people whose eyesight is severely impaired, do not read images.
– Mari-Lou A
Sep 27 '17 at 10:33
I would say there's about a 50% chance that the term is derived from American baseball (or possibly British cricket).
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
1
1
it's astonishing you did not realize that: the image you posted was tremendously too large beyond social norms.
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:29
it's astonishing you did not realize that: the image you posted was tremendously too large beyond social norms.
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:29
It's a phone screenshot. I was in a pinch.
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:13
It's a phone screenshot. I was in a pinch.
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:13
Copy and paste the definition? Screen readers, i.e. the programme used by many blind or people whose eyesight is severely impaired, do not read images.
– Mari-Lou A
Sep 27 '17 at 10:33
Copy and paste the definition? Screen readers, i.e. the programme used by many blind or people whose eyesight is severely impaired, do not read images.
– Mari-Lou A
Sep 27 '17 at 10:33
I would say there's about a 50% chance that the term is derived from American baseball (or possibly British cricket).
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
I would say there's about a 50% chance that the term is derived from American baseball (or possibly British cricket).
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
This is just a quick answer:
To be the mustard = to be special (circa 1903)
To cut the mustard = to succeed (1907)
To cut it = to succeed (once the previous idiom was established)
To hack it = to cope (circa 1955)
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
add a comment |
The expression appears to be an AmE one from the ‘50s. The Phrase Finder suggests a possible derivation from an earlier and even more mysterious expression “can’t cut the musturd” with the same meaning:
Can’t hack it :
- Slang sense of "cope with" (as in can't hack it) is first recorded in American English 1955.
From the Phrase Finder:
The Oxford English Dictionary, after giving the principle uses of "hack", such as chop or chop at, mutilate with jagged strokes, give us this:
d) To cope with, manage, accomplish; to tolerate, accept; to comprehend; freq. to hack it. slang (orig. U.S.):
: 1955 Antioch Rev. XV. 379, I can't hack something like stealing.. .
If, as seems likely, "can't hack it" originated as American slang in the 1940s or '50s, it probably was introduced as a variation on "can't cut it" (with the same meaning). The it in "can't cut it" is the mustard; and the phrase "cut the mustard" is wreathed in mysteries as well.
Also, from dailywritingtips:
- One school of thought is that hack simply derives from an Old High German word that refers to chopping. (A short, sharp cough is also called a hack.) From that meaning, it derived the figurative sense of crudely or ruthlessly working on something and then of simply toiling; by extension, the word was applied to being able or unable to manage or tolerate something: The now-rare expression “You just can’t hack it” expressed this idea.
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
add a comment |
I think it’s wonderful that you all take the time to type on this page,the definition of HACK IT. Thank you,Kim
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f411628%2fwhats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cant-hack-it%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This is just a quick answer:
To be the mustard = to be special (circa 1903)
To cut the mustard = to succeed (1907)
To cut it = to succeed (once the previous idiom was established)
To hack it = to cope (circa 1955)
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
add a comment |
This is just a quick answer:
To be the mustard = to be special (circa 1903)
To cut the mustard = to succeed (1907)
To cut it = to succeed (once the previous idiom was established)
To hack it = to cope (circa 1955)
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
add a comment |
This is just a quick answer:
To be the mustard = to be special (circa 1903)
To cut the mustard = to succeed (1907)
To cut it = to succeed (once the previous idiom was established)
To hack it = to cope (circa 1955)
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
This is just a quick answer:
To be the mustard = to be special (circa 1903)
To cut the mustard = to succeed (1907)
To cut it = to succeed (once the previous idiom was established)
To hack it = to cope (circa 1955)
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
answered Sep 26 '17 at 18:15
AmIAmI
3,2791617
3,2791617
add a comment |
add a comment |
The expression appears to be an AmE one from the ‘50s. The Phrase Finder suggests a possible derivation from an earlier and even more mysterious expression “can’t cut the musturd” with the same meaning:
Can’t hack it :
- Slang sense of "cope with" (as in can't hack it) is first recorded in American English 1955.
From the Phrase Finder:
The Oxford English Dictionary, after giving the principle uses of "hack", such as chop or chop at, mutilate with jagged strokes, give us this:
d) To cope with, manage, accomplish; to tolerate, accept; to comprehend; freq. to hack it. slang (orig. U.S.):
: 1955 Antioch Rev. XV. 379, I can't hack something like stealing.. .
If, as seems likely, "can't hack it" originated as American slang in the 1940s or '50s, it probably was introduced as a variation on "can't cut it" (with the same meaning). The it in "can't cut it" is the mustard; and the phrase "cut the mustard" is wreathed in mysteries as well.
Also, from dailywritingtips:
- One school of thought is that hack simply derives from an Old High German word that refers to chopping. (A short, sharp cough is also called a hack.) From that meaning, it derived the figurative sense of crudely or ruthlessly working on something and then of simply toiling; by extension, the word was applied to being able or unable to manage or tolerate something: The now-rare expression “You just can’t hack it” expressed this idea.
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
add a comment |
The expression appears to be an AmE one from the ‘50s. The Phrase Finder suggests a possible derivation from an earlier and even more mysterious expression “can’t cut the musturd” with the same meaning:
Can’t hack it :
- Slang sense of "cope with" (as in can't hack it) is first recorded in American English 1955.
From the Phrase Finder:
The Oxford English Dictionary, after giving the principle uses of "hack", such as chop or chop at, mutilate with jagged strokes, give us this:
d) To cope with, manage, accomplish; to tolerate, accept; to comprehend; freq. to hack it. slang (orig. U.S.):
: 1955 Antioch Rev. XV. 379, I can't hack something like stealing.. .
If, as seems likely, "can't hack it" originated as American slang in the 1940s or '50s, it probably was introduced as a variation on "can't cut it" (with the same meaning). The it in "can't cut it" is the mustard; and the phrase "cut the mustard" is wreathed in mysteries as well.
Also, from dailywritingtips:
- One school of thought is that hack simply derives from an Old High German word that refers to chopping. (A short, sharp cough is also called a hack.) From that meaning, it derived the figurative sense of crudely or ruthlessly working on something and then of simply toiling; by extension, the word was applied to being able or unable to manage or tolerate something: The now-rare expression “You just can’t hack it” expressed this idea.
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
add a comment |
The expression appears to be an AmE one from the ‘50s. The Phrase Finder suggests a possible derivation from an earlier and even more mysterious expression “can’t cut the musturd” with the same meaning:
Can’t hack it :
- Slang sense of "cope with" (as in can't hack it) is first recorded in American English 1955.
From the Phrase Finder:
The Oxford English Dictionary, after giving the principle uses of "hack", such as chop or chop at, mutilate with jagged strokes, give us this:
d) To cope with, manage, accomplish; to tolerate, accept; to comprehend; freq. to hack it. slang (orig. U.S.):
: 1955 Antioch Rev. XV. 379, I can't hack something like stealing.. .
If, as seems likely, "can't hack it" originated as American slang in the 1940s or '50s, it probably was introduced as a variation on "can't cut it" (with the same meaning). The it in "can't cut it" is the mustard; and the phrase "cut the mustard" is wreathed in mysteries as well.
Also, from dailywritingtips:
- One school of thought is that hack simply derives from an Old High German word that refers to chopping. (A short, sharp cough is also called a hack.) From that meaning, it derived the figurative sense of crudely or ruthlessly working on something and then of simply toiling; by extension, the word was applied to being able or unable to manage or tolerate something: The now-rare expression “You just can’t hack it” expressed this idea.
The expression appears to be an AmE one from the ‘50s. The Phrase Finder suggests a possible derivation from an earlier and even more mysterious expression “can’t cut the musturd” with the same meaning:
Can’t hack it :
- Slang sense of "cope with" (as in can't hack it) is first recorded in American English 1955.
From the Phrase Finder:
The Oxford English Dictionary, after giving the principle uses of "hack", such as chop or chop at, mutilate with jagged strokes, give us this:
d) To cope with, manage, accomplish; to tolerate, accept; to comprehend; freq. to hack it. slang (orig. U.S.):
: 1955 Antioch Rev. XV. 379, I can't hack something like stealing.. .
If, as seems likely, "can't hack it" originated as American slang in the 1940s or '50s, it probably was introduced as a variation on "can't cut it" (with the same meaning). The it in "can't cut it" is the mustard; and the phrase "cut the mustard" is wreathed in mysteries as well.
Also, from dailywritingtips:
- One school of thought is that hack simply derives from an Old High German word that refers to chopping. (A short, sharp cough is also called a hack.) From that meaning, it derived the figurative sense of crudely or ruthlessly working on something and then of simply toiling; by extension, the word was applied to being able or unable to manage or tolerate something: The now-rare expression “You just can’t hack it” expressed this idea.
edited Sep 27 '17 at 10:15
answered Sep 26 '17 at 19:05
user66974
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
add a comment |
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
great answer thanks. (1) "The now-rare expression" what the hell are they talking about? (2) "A short, sharp cough is also called a hack." - why did they add that parenthesis? It has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything under discussion. Bizarre
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:30
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
You're saying it's not at all rare, right?
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:14
add a comment |
I think it’s wonderful that you all take the time to type on this page,the definition of HACK IT. Thank you,Kim
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
add a comment |
I think it’s wonderful that you all take the time to type on this page,the definition of HACK IT. Thank you,Kim
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
add a comment |
I think it’s wonderful that you all take the time to type on this page,the definition of HACK IT. Thank you,Kim
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I think it’s wonderful that you all take the time to type on this page,the definition of HACK IT. Thank you,Kim
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
answered 2 hours ago
user339589user339589
1
1
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
user339589 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
add a comment |
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
Please don't add "thank you" as an answer. Once you have sufficient reputation, you will be able to vote up questions and answers that you found helpful. - From Review
– Laurel
49 mins ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f411628%2fwhats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cant-hack-it%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
it's astonishing you did not realize that: the image you posted was tremendously too large beyond social norms.
– Fattie
Sep 26 '17 at 20:29
It's a phone screenshot. I was in a pinch.
– Daniel
Sep 27 '17 at 8:13
Copy and paste the definition? Screen readers, i.e. the programme used by many blind or people whose eyesight is severely impaired, do not read images.
– Mari-Lou A
Sep 27 '17 at 10:33
I would say there's about a 50% chance that the term is derived from American baseball (or possibly British cricket).
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago