{"id":6067,"date":"2022-09-02T16:14:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T16:14:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=6067"},"modified":"2022-09-02T16:14:49","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T16:14:49","slug":"ides-of-march-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/ides-of-march-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Ides of March \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did someone say \u2018beware the Ides of March<\/em><\/strong>?\u2019 What does that mean? Are they giving you a warning for something? This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression 'Ides of March'<\/em> refers to a specific lunar event occurring during March.<\/u> It's a pagan festival originally celebrated by the Romans.<\/u><\/p>\n

    \n
  • 'Kalends' (first day of March).<\/li>\n
  • 'Nones' (the 7th day in March).<\/li>\n
  • 'Ides' (the 15th day in March).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The 'Ides of March'<\/em> refers to the first new moon in March,<\/u> usually falling between the 13th and 15th of<\/u> the month<\/u>. The 'Ides of March'<\/em> was a cause for celebration in Roman days.<\/u><\/p>\n

    However, there isn't much use for the term outside the financial markets<\/u>. Traders and investors use the time to refer to the market's annual selloff,<\/u> usually occurring in March<\/u> during options expiry and earnings season.<\/p>\n

    Example Usage<\/h2>\n

    \u201cTis \u2018The Ides of March\u2019 in a few days\u2019 time. What will we do to celebrate this pagan tradition this year? Does anyone even know what it means anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe Ides of March will eat your portfolio alive if you\u2019re not prepared for the volatility. Make sure our broker has a good strategy to navigate the market.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cI lost everything during the massive sell-off back in March. I remember a trader telling me \u2018beware the Ides of March\u2019 when I started, and I guess she was right.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cI should have listened when people told me about the market volatility during March. Beware, the Ides of March. It turns out it\u2019s a real thing after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cMake sure you get out of the market and into cash before the end of February. There are options-expiry and profit taking for earnings and tax season around this time. Beware the Ides of March.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAre you ready for this month? We can expect massive volatility in price action across all asset classes. Usually, it\u2019s to the downside, so be ready to short the right names. Beware the Ides of March, and use it to your advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

    Origin<\/h2>\n

    The expression \u2018the Ides of March is a shorter version of the full-length phrase \u2018beware the Ides of March.\u2019 It originates from the Roman days and pagan traditions surrounding lunar activity.<\/p>\n

    However, the saying became a part of the English lexicon thanks to Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. A coalition of Roman senators conspired to murder Caesar on March 15th, 44 BC. Roman poet, Publius Terentius Afer, recorded the events.<\/p>\n

    Playwright Nicholas Udall, and later headmaster at Eton College, would coin the phrase in 1533 in his textbook, \u2018Floures for Latine Spekynge Selected and Gathered oute of Terence.\u2019<\/p>\n

    The phrase appears in archaic English as follows.<\/p>\n

    \u201cFor Spurinna beinge a southsayer hadde warned Cesar before to beware of the Ides of Marche, for he shulde be slayne as that daye, and soo he was.\u201d<\/p>\n