Guidos Say It Gets Better

[princealbertofb]

Guido is actually the Italian name Guy, in French Guy... which is a proper noun... as American English seems to use the word guys to mean male persons, and by extension any people of any sex (especially in the plural) I suppose Guidos is the Italianate version of "guys". Originally, I think the term "guys" was taken from Guy Fawkes, a man who attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London a few centuries ago. The attempt was uncovered and failed and Guy Fawkes was sentenced to death. Subsequently (and even today) effigies made of rag and / or straw were made to be burnt on a bonfire; on Bonfire Night, the English equivalent to the 4th of July, or le 14 juillet which is celebrated in Great Britain on November 5th, such effigies are offered to the flames of a big fire outside. I think these effigies, known as guys, came to be the popular word for male men, and then for all people... Another example of proper nouns coming into their own, like Hoover for vaccum cleaners and vaccum cleaning, or Saran Wrap for cling film...