English Language & Usage Asked by Adam-E on May 20, 2021
I don’t hear this phrase used often anymore; of course it was common many years ago when people still actually sent postcards instead of Instagram posts. Since it’s not used often now, trying to find the origin and meaning behind it has resulted in conflicting or vague descriptions.
So what does it mean, and does it have more than one meaning? For example, it might be genuine request for answers to a proposed question, but they’re expected to be brief. However, I’ve heard it being used in a sarcastic tone, like "Will Covid-19 cause a recession? Answers on a postcard, please."
It is used to express a quick, often obvious answer,
- A brief, concise answer, reply, or opinion, especially one meant as a quick response to a general question.
- I'd like to get people's opinions on where to go for a summer vacation. Answers on a postcard, please!
- An answer that is considered obvious or self-evident.
- We'd like to get into more complex reasons for inequality, so please avoid just giving answers on a postcard.
(Fareflex Dictionary)
Answered by user 66974 on May 20, 2021
It used to be common for magazines to print in each issue a conundrum or quiz question for their readers, with a small prize for the first correct reply, or the first X-number of correct replies. Up until a certain point, a postcard cost less to send than a letter, and postcards were easier for the magazine staff to sort, so the standard instruction was "Answers on a postcard, please, to [the magazine address]". So this became a catchphrase for "If anybody knows, please tell me". This was a favourite expression of Jack Knight's in DC's Starman comic book of the 1990s.
Answered by KH McMurray on May 20, 2021
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