what are the origins of the "shake a stick at" phrase?
I know it comes from Pennsylvania, early 1800's. My best guess is that it being a rather common saying used by common people, it came from farmers or other menial laborers of the time.
I was just thinking the other day, what are the origins of the "shake a stick at" phrase? I can generally work out phrase origins on my own, but this one has me puzzled.