Source of the expression 'to use in anger'

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JDT - 15 Mar 2006 20:23 GMT

Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning 'to use
for its intended purpose' rather than training, practice, testing etc.

I think the phrase is commonly used in the software industry to describe
when a product moves from testing into real-life use.

I assume it must have some sort of military origins but can find no solid
references with Google.

Thanks.

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Django Cat - 16 Mar 2006 18:16 GMT

> Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning
> 'to use for its intended purpose' rather than training, practice,
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I assume it must have some sort of military origins but can find no
> solid references with Google.

I've always assumed it comes from using a weapon to fight. When I
worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' -
another military analogy.
DC

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JDT - 16 Mar 2006 18:48 GMT

>> Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning
>> 'to use for its intended purpose' rather than training, practice,
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> worked in IT years back hardware was often refered to as 'kit' -
> another military analogy.

Thanks. This is my assumption too. Finding some facts to back this up is
proving a little difficult though!

I sent an email to someone the other day in which I referred to her using a
new piece of equipment 'in anger' (including the quotation marks in the
email!). She thought I was having a dig at her getting bad tempered when
using her computer!!! Just wanted to find some evidence for the origin of
expression.

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Mike Lyle - 16 Mar 2006 22:56 GMT

>>> Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning
>>> 'to use for its intended purpose' rather than training, practice,
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> bad tempered when using her computer!!! Just wanted to find some
> evidence for the origin of expression.

You may, I think, find that the original expression referred to shots.
An inexperienced soldier would be said never to have "heard a shot fired
in anger" -- that is, a shot fired to kill rather than just for
practice. It could have started out with older weapons, but I remember
only the firearms reference.

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JDT - 17 Mar 2006 00:52 GMT

>>>> Does anyone know the source of the phrase 'to use in anger', meaning
>>>> 'to use for its intended purpose' rather than training, practice,
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> practice. It could have started out with older weapons, but I remember
> only the firearms reference.

Great. Thanks very much. A quick Google on your quotation throws a reference
to Pepys from 1662 to "a shot fired in anger". I am sure that you are right
and that the more general expression must be derived from this.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / March 2006

Source of the expression 'to use in anger'