Tom Tiddler's Ground facts for kids
Tom Tiddler's Ground is a classic children's game that has been played for a very long time. It's also sometimes called Tom Tidler's Ground or Tommy Tiddler's Ground.
In the game, one person plays "Tom Tiddler." They stand on a special spot, like a pile of stones or a small hill. Other players then try to run onto Tom's spot. As they do, they shout, "Here I am on Tom Tiddler's ground, picking up gold and silver!" Tom's job is to catch or chase away anyone who comes onto their ground.
Beyond the game, the phrase "Tom Tiddler's Ground" can also mean a place that someone owns but doesn't protect very well. It might be a place where it's easy to trick or outsmart the owner. You can still see parts of this game in modern games like Steal the Bacon and different types of Tag.
Tom Tiddler's Ground in Books
The game "Tom Tiddler's Ground" has appeared in many books and stories over the years.
- Charles Dickens wrote a short story in 1861 called "Tom Tiddler's Ground." He also used the phrase in his famous novels like Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, and Dombey and Son.
- Walter de la Mare created a poem and a collection of children's poems, both titled "Tom Tiddler's Ground," in 1931.
- Edward Shanks wrote a novel with the same title in 1934.
- E. F. Benson mentioned it in his 1935 novel The Worshipful Lucia.
- In the 1962 children's book No One Must Know by Barbara Sleigh, "Tom Tiddler's Ground" is the name of an empty piece of land.
- In C.S. Forester's Hornblower and the Atropos, gold and silver coins are found on "Tom Tiddler's Ground."
- In Agatha Christie's 1962 mystery novel The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side, a police sergeant named William Tiddler is nicknamed "Tom Tiddler" by local people.
Other Ways the Phrase is Used
The phrase "Tom Tiddler's Ground" isn't just for the game or books.
- Roy Harper, a singer, had a song called "Tom Tiddler's Ground" on his 1970 album Flat Baroque and Berserk.
- Sometimes, people use "Tom Tiddler's Ground" to describe a situation where someone is in an unsure or tricky position. For example, if someone says, "She was on Tom Tiddler's Ground," it means her situation was not very stable or clear.
