2007-09-13 16:02:07 · 8 answers · asked by Mike 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
!amazing question!
As a native English speaker, however, I find I don't have a clue.
Because English is a Germanic language, often the path to English meaning can be traced to German, but not in this case.
While, of course, there are phrases in German that mean "fall in love," German never uses the verb "einfallen" or otherwise verbs literally meaning "fall," as we do in English.
The actual German verb meaning "to fall in love" has no real hint of anyone taking a fall: "verlieben."
"Ich verliebe mich Hals über Kopf in sie,"
means
"I've fallen head over heals in love with her,"
which literally is:
[I (*verliebe) myself heels over head in her].
*"Verlieben" has no exact English equivalent; Liebe is "Love," but the prefix "ver-" appears in many words of varying meaning--the closest I've ever been able to assimilate it is some sense of moving through something, or something happening thoroughly and absolutely.
...so in German, the action is not (falling in love) "with" someone, but "in" someone, with the tense being similar to when one walks "in" a room.
So where does the act of falling come from? "Heels over head" *does* connect directly to "head over heels" in English, so despite no mention of actually falling in German, the act of moving "heels over head" indicates tumbling, so this could be a clue...
Perhaps using a verb to literally mean "falling" came from French? It may even be Gaelic in origin...
Now you have me wondering how many languages actually use the term *fall* in love.
English--yes.
German--no, but a reference to tumbling...
French--?
Russian--?
Greek--?
Urdu--?
etc.--?
...and now suddenly I realize "heels over head" makes more sense than the way we've adopted in English "head over heels." I mean, I am head over heels nearly every waking moment... sitting, walking, standing... !!!!
Thanks for the thought-provoking question!
2007-09-13 17:06:34 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To (fall) in love , shows a lack of control or even intent. It's like tripping on the sidewalk. You have no choice. I just feel sorry for those that love someone that doesn't feel the same way. Great question.
2007-09-13 16:08:05 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word "fall" expresses the unintentional aspect of love. We don't make a rational decision about who is a worthy recipient of our love. Instead, in the course of getting to know some attractive person we find ourselves smitten, i.e., hit with an amorous attraction, and we "fall" in love.
If this or another answer here proves helpful in your research, you can encourage good answers by choosing one answer as the "best answer."
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-09-13 16:08:57 · answer #3 · answered by Bruce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to religions loving are making sex with any women other than your wife is sin,specially in Islam, if you do that you will fall, also according to many religions, I think that's the reason they say fall in love!!!
2007-09-13 16:11:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because you dont "fall out" of love.
2007-09-13 16:05:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because we keep fall in to it!!
2007-09-13 16:07:27 · answer #6 · answered by women82 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but I only know that it has been already fossilized that it is considered correct!;D
2007-09-15 21:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by i'm pretty... 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it happens fast, before you know it.
2007-09-13 16:05:30 · answer #8 · answered by kris10dice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋