st patricks cathedral

door of reconciliation

How the saying 'to chance your arm' came about

@JudyEv (382273)

Rockingham, Australia

May 11, 2023 8:40am CST

I picked up a book while I was in Ireland called The Pipes Are Calling and the authors tell of their various trips within Ireland. They visited one of Dublin’s Cathedrals and told an interesting story of a door there that has a hole in it. In 1492, two families were feuding over which should hold the position of Lord Deputy. Violent fighting took place outside the city walls and the Butler contingent took refuge in the Chapter House of St Patrick’s Cathedral. The other party, the FitzGeralds, wanted to make peace but the Butlers refused to leave the safety of the cathedral. Gerald FitzGerald then had a hole cut in the door and thrust his arm through, as a gesture of goodwill. Reasoning that the offer of peace was genuine, the two men shook hands through the hole. The door is now known as the ‘Door of Reconciliation’ and the phrase ‘to chance your arm’ has arisen from this event, meaning to ‘take a risk’. The photo is of the chapel at Dublin Castle.

16 people like this

14 responses

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

11 May 23

It's a beautiful chapel. I hadn't heard the phrase before. Thank you for sharing the story and its meaning.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

Out of the blue, it would be hard to work out how it originated.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

12 May 23

@JudyEv Yes, it would.

1 person likes this

@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

12 May 23

Certainly was a chance! At least it paid off

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 May 23

The alternative might have changed the course of history - make that 'would have....'

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 May 23

@Ronrybs No indeed. A major warning.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

14 May 23

@JudyEv Wouldn't have been that popular a saying after that, I guess!

1 person likes this

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@allknowing (153529)

• India

12 May 23

This phrase is new to me and what an interesting story that created this phrase.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

The guy was lucky not to get his arm cut off perhaps.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (502610)

• Italy

11 May 23

Interesting story, I never heard the phrase "to chance your arm".

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (502610)

• Italy

12 May 23

@JudyEv I never heard, but often different countries have different sayings.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

I've only heard it a time or two but it's not unknown to me.

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Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (18198)

• Raurkela, India

12 May 23

I hadn't heard this phrase. A useful one indeed.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

It's not used very often nowadays.

1 person likes this

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (18198)

• Raurkela, India

13 May 23

@JudyEv That's the reason I didn't come across it.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222527)

• United States

12 May 23

What an interesting story. I have never heard of "to chance your arm". Great photo.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

I've heard it a few times but not very often.

1 person likes this

@AmbiePam (120908)

• United States

11 May 23

That phrase sounds vaguely familiar. It’s a very interesting story.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

It's not something you hear very often.

1 person likes this

@shaggin (74987)

• United States

11 May 23

Oh that’s neat. While I have never heard of that saying I can imagine what a risk it would be since they could have cut him arm off instead of shaking

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

Yes, it was a bit of a risky thing to do.

1 person likes this

@Jenaisle (16568)

• Philippines

11 May 23

That's an interesting story. I remember the song, "Danny Boy". "Oh Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling from glen to glen and down the mountainside..." It's a beloved Irish ballad. Thanks for the great information. I learned something new again. The photo is a unique admirable structure. Allow me to share the video below.

Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

Thanks for the link. Danny Boy was one of my mother's favourite songs.

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

11 May 23

Lovely photo Judy. Now that is interesting.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

We weren't able to go inside the chapel which was a pity.

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (86765)

• United States

11 May 23

Amazing how those things gave us sayings. “Chance your arm” isn’t used much in America, though. That’s okay, I’ll know what it means now if someone says it to me! Very lovely photo.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

I haven't heard it too often but it's not unknown to me.

1 person likes this

@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

11 May 23

I'm glad the person inside recognized the offer is peace was genuine. I thought maybe someone might chop his arm off instead. I've never heard that saying before. Is it common where your live or just in Ireland and thereabouts?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

I don't know that it's common anywhere but I have heard it before without knowing its origins.

1 person likes this

@Kandae11 (57230)

•

11 May 23

I see where the meaning is. Suppose that arm was cut off instead of being shook....

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

Yes, he was certainly taking a chance.

@Beestring (15372)

• Hong Kong

11 May 23

That's a beautiful chapel. Never heard of the phrase. Thank you for the story.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (382273)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 May 23

You're welcome. It's a shame we weren't able to go inside the chapel.

1 person likes this