The idiom “like it or stack it” means acceptance of an unchangeable situation. It is casual and often preceded by a derogatory sentence. The origin of the word “lump” has changed over time, but the meaning of the idiom remains transparent. The reason for the persistence of some idioms and the disappearance of others is unknown.
The expression “like it or stack it” means that something must be accepted because the situation will not change. Often, idioms are used as a sort of linguistic shortcut. As long as all the speakers involved understand the meaning of an idiom, it can be a very efficient way to communicate. Some idioms are easy to understand even for those who may have never encountered them before, but others are as clear as mud. “Like it or pile it” falls into the latter category; unless the listener already knows its meaning, there’s a good chance the idiom isn’t a shorthand at all.
This saying is typically used casually. Friends or people at the same professional level might say this to each other, but an employee or student would never use the expression with a boss or teacher. It may seem a bit harsh or rough for a non-native English speaker. It is often preceded by a short, derogatory sentence. For example, someone complaining about income taxes might be bluntly told, “Yeah, well… like it or pile it up.”
Looking for logic in the expression is unlikely to be a very satisfying task. This is largely due to the presence of the word lump. In common parlance, a lump is some type of bump, usually misshapen and unappetizing. Naughty children are given a piece of coal, and two boys in a fight try to give pieces to each other. With this in mind, there appears to be no logical connection between liking something and not doing it, unless the expression can be interpreted to mean that a person can either like something or fight it.
This expression is very old and, like most idioms whose origins are shrouded in the mists of time, some of its individual words have changed their meaning. In the 16th century, lump or lumpe meant to complain or grumble. By the early 16th century, that meaning had somehow tuned into being unhappy with or disliking something. Now, the meaning of the “like it or not” idiom becomes transparent.
It is interesting to speculate why some newly minted idioms enter the linguistic stream, become so popular that they are found in all manner of pop culture, from movies to the news, and then vanish just as quickly, while other idioms with obscure origins remain forever. . No one comments anymore that something is “out of sight,” even if it was once on everyone’s lips. Perhaps the persistence of the expression “like or amass” can be attributed simply to the balanced and almost identical sounds in the words.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
