“Coming Down the Pike” vs. “Coming Down the Pipe”
“Pike” or “Pipe”: Quick SummaryComing down the pike is the original and correct version of the phrase, which nowadays usually refers to something that is “happening or appearing in the future.” Coming down the pipe is a modified version of the phrase that carries the same meaning and is gaining popularity.
- Although I’ve been training hard, I’m nervous about what’s coming down the pike.
Is It “Coming Down the Pike” or “Pipe”?
The correct expression is coming down the pike, which means “to happen or appear in the near future.” If you’re certain you heard someone say coming down the pipe, it’s because they probably did say it. This phrase has gained some prominence, likely because people are unfamiliar with the meaning of the term pike.
Below, we’re going to elaborate on the meaning and origin of coming down the pike, provide synonyms, and explain why some people say coming down the pipe instead.
Although “coming down the pike” is the correct phrase, “coming down the pipe” has gained popularity in recent years.
What Does “Down the Pike” Mean?
Originally, down the pike was synonymous with in the course of events, which is a noun phrase defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “the things that have happened, that are happening, or that will happen.”
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It’s important to remember the lessons learned from the challenges that have happened.
To understand the origin of this phrase, you should know that pike is a shortened version of the word turnpike, which initially referred to major roads on which payments were collected from drivers at toll booths or gates.
Turnpikes often connected cities to small towns and brought legions of unexpected things like visitors, commodities, and opportunities. So, using the phrase down the pike to refer to the flurry of possibilities that can happen or are happening makes sense.
In its more recent usage, down the pike focuses on “what is expected to happen in the near future.”
Where Did “Coming Down the Pipe” Come From?
It can be presumed that coming down the pipe came to be because some people weren’t familiar with the term pike. It’s used in the same sense to refer to something that will occur at some future point.
According to this Google Ngram coming down the pipe is not nearly as popular as coming down the pike, but it’s also not completely irrelevant.
The Google Ngram above shows the difference in usage between “coming down the pike” and “coming down the pipe.”
There’s another English idiom that may have something to do with the confusion: in the pipeline. This expression means “being planned, developed, or completed.” Its reference to something that is in the process of being completed might be why many people say coming down the pipe.
So, Which Phrase Should You Use?
The fact is that both coming down the pike and coming down the pipe can be used to refer to things “that have happened, that are happening, or that will happen.” But if you prefer to use etymologically accurate vocabulary, then stick to using the original version.
Keep in mind that these phrases are typically used to refer to things that will happen or appear in the future. You can also play it safe by using these synonyms:
Imminent
In the works
On the horizon
On the way
Upcoming
Pristine Writing is Coming Down the Pike
Remember: although coming down the pike is the original and technically correct version of the phrase, coming down the pipe is gaining popularity and acceptance.
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