Grammar debate: "Go into shed"

[vonnegut]

My partner and I have been having a debate over the phrase "go into shed." Can anyone please enlighten us as to the origin of this phrase? Why don't we just say "shed"? Is it just part of herp subculture lingo, or is there some authoritative resource on the English language that permits its use?

Many thanks for your thoughts, expert grammarians.

[Kinra]

I don't know the origins of the phrase, but I do know why I use it and why it makes sense to me.

To me it is a shortened way of saying something has begun the shedding process.

"My ball python has gone into shed"

"My ball python has started the shedding process"

The first one is easier to type and say. It also doesn't sound formal like the second one and every still understands that they mean the same thing.

That's why I use the phrase because it makes sense to me and is a more relaxed way of speaking.

[Annarose15]

I don't know the origins of the phrase, but I do know why I use it and why it makes sense to me.

To me it is a shortened way of saying something has begun the shedding process.

"My ball python has gone into shed"

"My ball python has started the shedding process"

The first one is easier to type and say. It also doesn't sound formal like the second one and every still understands that they mean the same thing.

That's why I use the phrase because it makes sense to me and is a more relaxed way of speaking.

I think Kinra nailed it. Also, when you say they shed, it implies the process has completed (with a shed skin to show for it), rather than the animal being at some stage of the process.

[JLC]

The shedding process is a phase. We "enter into" phases. Therefore, a snake can "go into" shed. As noted, it's not exactly a formal way of expressing it, but it does make sense.

[JLC]

BTW...I like your avatar...with the little snake face peeking out of your hair. VERY cute!

[Skittles1101]

+1 to Kinra and Judy, it's a process or phase. When it starts, you "go into" it. +1 to the cute little snake face in your avatar

[mainbutter]

1)Can anyone please enlighten us as to the origin of this phrase?
2)Why don't we just say "shed"?
3)Is it just part of herp subculture lingo, or is there some authoritative resource on the English language that permits its use?

1) I don't know who said it first, but someone had to be the first person.

2) We can.. however, the infinitive "to shed" implicitly refers to the specific act of removing skin, clothing, or any other item from one's self. However, grammatically, in the phrase "go into shed," the word "shed" (typically used and thought of as a verb) is "noun-ified". We are using it as an abstract noun, regarding the entire shedding process in snakes in which they enter a ~week-long ordeal in which they remove the entire outer layer of skin. A snake is not shedding when it is blue.

3) I don't know if any authority recognizes the word "shed" to be a noun referring to the snake shedding process, but they should. We needed a word for that process, and we chose one. We could have created a new word. New words are needed all the time by growing fields of interest. The technology world creates new words and substitutes old words in new ways all the time.

[DellaF]

I started saying it the first time I saw one of my Bp's with the dark, dull look. I told my husband Rocko is going into shed. I say that about all of them now unless they are past the blue stage and then I just say. They are about to shed. I must be tired because I confused myself for a minute

[Vypyrz]

My partner and I have been having a debate over the phrase "go into shed." Can anyone please enlighten us as to the origin of this phrase? Why don't we just say "shed"? Is it just part of herp subculture lingo, or is there some authoritative resource on the English language that permits its use?

Many thanks for your thoughts, expert grammarians.

According to my authoritative resource, saying,"My snake is going into shed", is grammatically correct. In this statement, the word "shed" is used as a verb, to describe an action, or state of being.



If you consider "in shed" to be a place, then it would be used as a noun, and still grammatically correct, as it would then become the subject of the statement.



In the statement, "This is a shed skin", it is used as an adjective to directly describe the skin.



And, if these videos made you go , that's an interjection...

[JLC]

According to my authoritative resource, saying,"My snake is going into shed", is grammatically correct. In this statement, the word "shed" is used as a verb, to describe an action, or state of being.

You are officially my hero for the day! That was AWEsome!!

Ahhhh...the childhood memories.....