literary history question

[acroyear]

Did the phrase "modest proposal" (meaning, of course, a totally over the top sarcastic suggestion) come from the 1729 book, or did it exist before?

Comments

[tully-argyle.livejournal.com]

I suspect the phrase was probably in use somewhere in Irish or British culture at Swift's time, and in a non-sarcastic context. Perhaps it was used at a society event, or a lecture, and stuck in his head to be used for the essay.

But I really don't know. Interesting question...

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

Modest, as an adjective, was in general use, non sarcastically at that time. The precise term, as satire was indeed invented by Swift, AFAIR