Beyond the Pale

Does anyone know the meaning of the expression 'Beyond the Pale'?

unacceptable = beyond the pale

http://dictionary.cambridge.org can help you out with these kind of idioms.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org



Definition

"beyond the pale"

If someone's behaviour is beyond the pale, it is unacceptable


Her recent conduct is beyond the pale.




The Cambridge Dictionary give the 'bare bones' meaning of the idiomatic epression: 'Beyond the Pale', but what is the historic background to this expression?

Where does the expression: 'Beyond the Pale' come from?



Where would you look to find out where such an idiomatic expression comes from?

I don't know the anwer but I have a feeling that you are going to tell me.

The usage of "pale" in this expression is a special case in that it is actually related to "palisade" in that it comes from Latin "palus", that is, "stake", and by extension, "fence" or "boundary". The phrase "beyond the pale" originally referred to the area outside the boundary markers built to demarcate the area around Anglo-Norman Dublin in Ireland and separate it from Gaelic Ireland outside it.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
A real gangsta-ass nigga plays his cards right
A real gangsta-ass nigga never runs his fuckin mouth
Cuz real gangsta-ass niggas don't start fights
And niggas always gotta high cap
Showin' all his boys how he shot em
But real gangsta-ass niggas don't flex nuts
Cuz real gangsta-ass niggas know they got em
And everythings cool in the mind of a gangsta
Cuz gangsta-ass niggas think deep
Up three-sixty-five a year 24/7
Cuz real gangsta ass niggas don't sleep

And all I gotta say to you
Wannabe, gonnabe, cocksuckin', pussy-eatin' prankstas
'Cause when the fire dies down what the fuck you gonna do
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

Verse 2

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
Feedin' the poor and helpin out with their bills
Although I was born in Jamaica
Now I'm in the US makin' deals
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
I mean one that you don't really know
Ridin' around town in a drop-top Benz
Hittin' switches in my black six-fo'
Now gangsta-ass niggas come in all shapes and colors
Some got killed in the past
But this gangtsa here is a smart one
Started living for the lord and I last

Now all I gotta say to you
Wannabe, gonnabe, pussy-eatin' cocksuckin' prankstas
When the shit jumps off what the fuck you gonna do
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

Verse 3

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
A real gangta-ass nigga knows the play
Real gangsta-ass niggas get the flyest of the bitches
Ask that gangsta-ass nigga Little Jake
Now bitches look at gangsta-ass niggas like a stop sign
And play the role of Little Miss Sweet
But catch the bitch all alone get the digit take her out
and then dump-hittin' the ass with the meat
Cuz gangsta-ass niggas be the gang playas
And everythings quiet in the clique
A gangsta-ass nigga pulls the trigger
And his partners in the posse ain't tellin' off shit
Real gangsta-ass niggas don't talk much
All ya hear is the black from the gun blast
And real gangsta-ass niggas don't run for shit
Cuz real gangsta-ass niggas can't run fast
Now when you in the free world talkin' shit do the shit
Hit the pen and let the mothafuckas shank ya
But niggas like myself kick back and peep game
Cuz damn it feels good to be a gangsta

Verse 4

And now, a word from the President!
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
Gettin voted into the White House
Everything lookin good to the people of the world
But the Mafia family is my boss
So every now and then I owe a favor gettin' down
like lettin' a big drug shipment through
And send 'em to the poor community
So we can bust you know who
So voters of the world keep supportin' me
And I promise to take you very far
Other leaders better not upset me
Or I'll send a million troops to die at war
To all you Republicans, that helped me win
I sincerely like to thank you
Cuz now I got the world swingin' from my nuts
And damn it feels good to be a gangsta

Travis's answer was not a complete answer. As well as the area outside of Dublin being 'beyond the pale' this term was also used to describe what is now called Poland. An area where Jews could live outside Russia proper.

You had to put Travis down, didn't you. It wasn't enough that you knew something, for once. You had to rub it in. You're not coming here to help people, oh no, you're just having a ball fighting with everyone. You little, little man.

I am not about putting Travis down. Just out of interest, and in hope of finding the source of the obscenities, I had a look at Travis's My Space page. I concluded that it was not Travis.

I wrote the original question, so knew the answer. It is not a big deal.