murder one's darlings en · VERB
Etymology
Possibly first used by Arthur Quiller-Couch (1863–1944) during a series of lectures at the University of Cambridge, later published in book form.
Meanings
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(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of kill one's darlings.
alt of kill one's darlings
Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it — whole-heartedly — and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings.
1916, Arthur Quiller-Couch, “On Style”, in On The Art of Writing:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| murdered one's darlings | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| murdered one's darlings | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| murders one's darlings | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| murdering one's darlings | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |