It is also referred to a year later by the English dramatist Thomas Nashe, in Have with you to Saffron-walden, 1596 - this version being the first to use the 'I smell the blood of an Englishman' line that is now well-known from Jack the Giant Killer:

The earliest citation of it in print that I know of is in a play by George Peele, The Old Wives' Tale, which was printed in England in 1595:Ĭonquer him that can, came for his lady bright, The source is anonymous and the date is unknown. It is best known from the English fable - Jack the Giant Killer, which was first published in 1711, although the elements of the story were undoubtedly repeated verbally long before then: As with many early English expressions the spelling is arbitrary and there are many variants in print: Apart from when quoting Shakespeare or Jack the Giant Killer, there's little reason ever to use it. The words are nonsense and the phrase has no allusory meaning.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Fie, fih, foh, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman'?

Shakespeare What's the meaning of the phrase 'Fie, fih, foh, fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman'?Ī nonsense rhyme, usually heard as part of the Jack The Giant Killer fable.

The special affects are dated in the present days but part this is one important component of these wonderful movies from the 60's. Princess Elaine is gorgeous and the hero Jack is a farmer capable of fight like the most skilled swordsman. The entertaining story is full of action, magic and evil creatures. Will they succeed in their mission? 'Jack the Giant Killer' is one of those naive adventures that are delightful matinée. The Imp grants three wishes to Jack and together with Jack, Peter and Sigurd, they head to the island where the castle of Pendragon is to save the princess. However they are rescued by the Viking Sigurd (Barry Kelley) that shows the Leprechaun Imp (Don Beddoe) to Jack. They kill the captain of the ship and the crew throws Jack overboard that is left behind with the captain's son Peter (Roger Mobley) in the sea. However Pendragon's spy Lady Constance (Anna Lee) warns the sorcerer and he sends witches to bring Elaine to his castle. King Mark (Dayton Lummis) assigns Jack to protect Elaine and to travel by ship with his daughter posing of peasants to a distant convent where she would be safe. Jack becomes a knight and Elaine and he fall in love with each other. However the farmer Jack (Kerwin Mathews) vanquishes the giant and rescues Elaine. During the night, his gift becomes a giant that abducts the princess. On the birthday of Princess Elaine (Judi Meredith), the evil warlock Pendragon (Torin Thatcher), who is exiled from the Kingdom of Cornwall, and his minion Garna (Walter Burke) come disguised to the court and he gives a gift to Elaine.

Jack the giant killer youtube