To be hoarse
Meaning
To have a rough, strained, or scratchy voice, often caused by shouting, a sore throat, or illness.
Origin
The sensation of 'being hoarse' connects us directly to the ancient world, tracing its linguistic roots back to Old English 'has' or 'hars,' and even further to Old Norse 'hárs.' These venerable words described something intrinsically rough or harsh, a raw feeling not just in sound but in physical sensation. Imagine the bards of old, their voices strained from epic recitations, or the farmers shouting across vast fields, their throats catching the dusty wind. The phrase isn't born from a specific event or quirky custom, but from the universal human experience of a voice worn thin—a raw, grating sound that cuts through the air, embodying the very essence of a stressed vocal cord.
Examples
- After cheering for her team through three overtime periods, she woke up the next morning to be hoarse.
- The kindergarten teacher found herself to be hoarse by the end of the week, a common hazard of the job.