Hump Day
It’s Wednesday so this must be hump day. It occurred to me that I have no idea where the term originated, so I set about conducting a little (very little) research. I’m afraid I learned little more than I already knew.
“Hump day” is, of course, a synonym for Wednesday. The idiom is based on the notion that if a worker has made it half-way through the week, struggling uphill from Monday, that the rest of the week is an easier slide toward Friday and the weekend; the end is in sight from the hump, the top of the hill.
Used in the context of climbing a proverbial hill to get through a tough week makes sense. But there’s also the double entendre related to sex. I’m not clear if, in that context, the term applies only to those who limit their sex to Wednesdays…
Anyway, I’m still no closer to knowing the idiom’s origin. If you know, please share.
Reader Comments (2)
"An English language idiom for Wednesday is 'hump day', a reference to making it through the middle of the work week as getting 'over the hump'. It is also unofficially (and with some irony) referred to as 'the peak of the week'." I know that doesn't answer your question so I will keep looking. Here is a link to more information:
http://ph.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060629090710AArjBDD
Tim
Thanks Tim. I hope you'll keep researching the burning question. It's probably some guy named Wilbur in Cedar Rapids but we'd really like to give the guy some proper kudos, don't you think?
Doug