Etymology

clogs to clogs in three generations

Today it means: Wealth earned in one generation seldom lasts through the third (grandchild's) generation. Full definition →

Ask AI about its historyChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

The story

From the common use of clogs by manual workers in north England and following the style of similar phrases which have been attested since 1700. The particular phrasing is perhaps of Lancashire origin. Compare shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.