2006-07-05 17:31:47 · 3 answers · asked by sweateredpanda 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The term originated from the word 'peeve.' A 'peeve,' meaning something that is particularly irritating or annoying, is a relatively recent word. Its first printed usage was in 1911. The term is a back formation from a 14th-century word: 'peevish,' meaning ornery or ill-tempered.
The phrase 'pet peeve,' a uniquely personal irritant, first appeared in print in 1919.
Pet peeves are typically of common occurrences and a person may encounter his pet peeve very often. An example of this would be someone not using his turn signal while driving; while some drivers feel frustrated when another driver does not use his turn signal, other drivers do not care very much. Many pet peeves associated with driving can result in road rage, where the person who feels peeved seeks some sort of retribution for the action.
Often a pet peeve will seem illogical to others. For example a supervisor may have a pet peeve about people leaving the lid on the copier up and react angrily. That same supervisor may witness employees coming into work late, and not feel any annoyance whatsoever.
2006-07-05 17:38:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not. This is one of the things about people's speech that annoys me. Something that bothers you the MOST is your PET PEEVE. Everything else is merely a peeve.
2006-07-05 17:54:57 · answer #2 · answered by kitten lover3 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pet refers to something that is yours and is usually a favorite.
A Peeve is something that annoys you.
So a "pet peeve" is your favorite or most common annoyances.
2006-07-05 17:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by randar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋