printer's ink in their veins
Meaning
This phrase describes someone with a deep, inherent connection to or an unwavering passion for the printing or publishing industry, often implying a lifelong dedication.
Origin
In the bustling world of 19th and early 20th-century printing houses, the air was thick with the distinctive scent of oil-based ink. Printers and journalists worked long hours, their hands perpetually stained black, the ink seeping into every crease and beneath their fingernails, a constant physical mark of their dedication. This pervasive presence of ink, clinging to skin and clothes, became a powerful metaphor. It suggested that the essence of the trade – the passion for news, the thrum of the presses, the tactile creation of words – ran so deep it was almost biological, a true mark of one whose very lifeblood was dedicated to the craft of putting words on paper.
Examples
- Having grown up in the family newspaper business, it's no surprise that she has printer's ink in her veins.
- Even after retiring, the old editor still visited the newsroom daily; he truly had printer's ink in his veins.