A consolatory expression, frequently used in literal contexts. A peck is a dry measure of two gallons. Cf. [1603 H. Chettle et al. Patient Grisel A3V] I thinke I shall not eate a pecke of salt: I shall not liue long sure.
‘Why then, here's some Dirt in my Tea-cup.’‥‘Poh! you must eat a Peck of Dirt before you die.’
[1738 Swift Polite Conversation i. 48]
This is the second black eye I have had since leaving school‥we must eat a peck before we die.
[1819 Keats Letter 19 Mar. (1952) 314]
The children‥were told: ‘Us've all got to eat a peck o' dust before we dies, an' it'll slip down easy in this good yarb [herb] beer.’
[1939 F. Thompson Lark Rise vi.]
She tried to rinse off the ice cubes. ‘Never mind. ‥They say, we all have to eat a peck of dirt before we die!’
[1979 M. Babson Twelve Deaths of Christmas xxix.]
Related to: health; mortality
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
