blind man's holiday
A humorous phrase for the time just before candles are lighted, when it is too dark to work, and one is obliged to rest or ‘take a holiday’; formerly used more widely.
| 1599 Nashe Lent. Stuffe in Harl. Misc. VI. 167 (D.) What will not blind Cupid doe in the night, which is his blindmans holiday. 1611 in Florio. 1796 Pegge Anonym. iii. §18 The twilight, or rather the hour between the time when one can no longer see to read and the lighting of the candle, is commonly called blindman's holiday. 1866 Aunt Judy's Mag. Oct. 358 At meal-times, or in blindman's holiday, when no work was to be done. |