Sneezing in the Cabbage
Euphemisms have been a part of human communication for centuries, and “sneezing in the cabbage” is one such phrase that has an interesting history. This blog post will explore the origins of this euphemism and the evolution of the euphemism.
Origins of “Sneezing in the Cabbage”:
The phrase “sneezing in the cabbage” has its origins in the 19th century, when tuberculosis was a common and deadly disease. People believed that the disease was caused by breathing in contaminated air, so they would cover their mouths and noses when someone nearby sneezed or coughed. This led to the belief that if someone sneezed or coughed while standing over a pot of boiling cabbage, the cabbage would absorb the germs and become contaminated.
To avoid wasting the cabbage, people would euphemistically say that someone had “sneezed in the cabbage” instead of admitting that they had been exposed to the disease. This phrase eventually became a euphemism for any embarrassing or uncomfortable situation.
Evolution of “Sneezing in the Cabbage”
Once a euphemism is known, language can then be evolved or sometimes distorted from it’s original meaning to another. This is a possible reason that ‘sneezing in the cabbage’ evolved from a health term to a more sexualised term.
“Sneezing in the Cabbage”… Who knew?
An early-20th-century euphemism for cunnilingus was also known as “sneezing in the cabbage”.
Who knew?
The proximity of the sneeze to the cabbage can be seen as similar to the proximity of the face to the vulva. The open leaves of a cabbage can be seen as a visual representation of the vulva.
Urban Dictionary Definition: Sneezing in the Cabbage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/whoresofyore/status/994538703216435201?lang=en
A brief history of oral sex, from ancient China to DJ Khaled
https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/a-brief-history-of-oral-sex-from-ancient-china-to-dj-khaled-292632
