Quote:
Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
One of course beats "red headded step-children" because (i) they are step children, not your children, so you don't care (similar to the rented mule) and (ii) red hair is a long-standing folk-tale shorthand for "illegitimate" or "not your kid." Obviously, this predates proper understanding of recessive genetics.
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I always understood this to be a reference to being Irish, i.e. your red-headed step-child is particularly worthy of being beaten because, after all, she's really just a dirty little mick. But perhaps the Irish part of my family is just overly sensitive.
Let's not even begin on "beyond the Pale."
