nouns - Why do we use plural when we say "blow someone's brains out"?


My simplistic thinking is that each person has one brain, so why do we say "blow someone's brains out"?



Answer



It's hard to say, since we've been doing it as long as the word has been around. The OED gives: I. Senses denoting organic structures. 1. a. The organ contained in the skull of humans and other vertebrates b. In pl. in the same senses. Now usu. as a mass noun, chiefly in Cookery.


?c1400 tr. Secreta Secret. (Sloane) 11 Many heres and softe signyfies buxomnes and coldnes of brains.


As for the comment about mass noun, note that you don't blow the entire brain out, just bits of it.


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