Remember the proverb 'Daylight Robbery'. What is Daylight Robbery? Here are some revelations:
In the USA, we come across the idiom 'Daylight Saving Time'. The daylight saving time changes twice a year. I've been there during these times on several occasions. Suddenly, clocks and watches need to be moved either forward or backward. That's when it struck me to understand what "daylight robbery" really means.
Many of us generally think that someone has robbed a priceless sum or item during the day, i.e., the robbery is committed in broad daylight. However, this interpretation is actually incorrect, despite seeing such idioms in papers.
Actually, "daylight robbery" refers to a situation where someone is charged unfairly or overcharged, taking advantage in a blatant way. This idiom/phrase has a history spanning over 300 years. In 1696, King William III of Great Britain faced financial strain due to frequent wars with France and Spain, resulting in a dwindling national treasury. The king's primary sources of income included land taxes, boat taxes, hunting animals taxes, toll taxes, etc. The income through taxes was insufficient to maintain the expenses which were skyrocketing.
The king thought that the land, water, forests, and other resources in his country belonged to him. Hence, he believed that the sunrays falling on his country also belonged to him. Thus, he rationalised that, as the owner of the sunrays, he had the right to tax the public for daylight usage.
King William III introduced the Window Tax, which was based on the number of windows in a house. The tax was premised on the idea that the more windows a house had, the wealthier its occupant. Homes with six windows or fewer were exempt from the tax, while those with more windows were subject to a fee. This tax was a way for the king to generate revenue, and it became a significant source of income for the government. The Window Tax led to closure of some windows to avoid paying the tax, an unintended consequence of the policy.
Due to the Window Tax, many homeowners bricked up many windows in their homes to avoid paying the tax. However, this led to unintended and detrimental consequences, such as increased risk of skin diseases, accidents, and insect-borne illnesses due to poor ventilation, resulting in higher hospital admissions. Despite doctors' pleas to repeal the tax, it remained in effect for nearly 150 years. Ultimately, the Window Tax was abolished in Great Britain when the country's economic situation improved, partly due to the wealth and resources gained from its colonial exploits, including those of the East India Company in Bharat.
This financial predicament in Great Britain likely led to the coining of the phrase "daylight robbery" to describe egregious overcharging or exploitation. Over time, the phrase has evolved to describe any situation where someone is being taken advantage of in a brazen manner. Today, "daylight robbery" is commonly used to express outrage or frustration at being overcharged or deceived. The phrase serves as a powerful metaphor, highlighting the audacity and unfairness of such exploitative practices. Its enduring usage is a testament to the lasting impact of historical events on language and culture.
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