What is the origin of the phrase "No answer came the stern reply"? Someone suggested to me that it relates to a nineteenth century painting representing an incident in the English Civil War where a young boy is being asked by an inquisitor, "When did you last see your father?" also the title of the painting, but I can find no corroboration of this. Any help?

peasypod

The painting by William Frederick Yeames doesn't seem to suggest that there is a reply and the viewer is left to decide that notion for one's self. This is good reading, albeit doesn't help you out with the phrase origin. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/collections/lastseefather/thepainting.asp ......however, here are some suggestions: http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/11/messages/873.html Jul 09 06, 7:18 PM

Baloo55th

I agree with Peasy - the painting is not based on any actual incident, and I've never heard the phrase used in this context. A boy of the age of the lad in the picture would hardly be able to give a 'stern reply' - even if that was silence! 'Stern' isn't a characteristic of kids, whatever period they lived in. This is probably a case of folk etymology in action - someone has had a bright idea after seeing the picture. (Irrelevantly, I live about 20 miles from that picture!) Nigel Rees is a pretty good authority on things like that. So is Leslie Dunkling for origins of phrases. (WHen I was small, I always thought that picture in the Walker was a copy. I never believed that London would allow something like that to be kept in Liverpool.) Jul 10 06, 2:54 PM

hectorb

Folk etymology is what I have always thought Baloo, when I first heard it linked to the Yeames painting some years ago, but when I heard someone else make the link I thought I'd post this to check. Peasy - I'd seen those links thanks, and Nigel Rees' view that the phrase has no discoverable origin just got me trying harder! He Jul 11 06, 12:25 AM

billtkd

It's from the poeam 'The Bunyip' by Frances King. Apr 08 12, 6:28 PM