Harriet Beecher Stowe introduced this phrase in 1852's Uncle Tom's Cabin. "Dawn" negatively refers to the arrival of light in a person's mind, as if they'd previously been in darkness. The full line was, "The idea that they had either feelings or rights had never dawned upon her.
Example: If we can pull this one off we'll be in high cotton.
Origin: This came from the old south where cotton was one of the few cash crops when this country was first settled. High cotton is a reference to the tallest healthiest plants, which produced the most cotton. To be "in high cotton" is to have a valuable, bumper crop.
Building on this,
A landowner or worker who had to defecate while in the fields would do so in the field and use some of the cotton for wiping. In the old south, these workers were slaves.
Given a choice anyone would prefer to wipe with the biggest, whitest, fluffiest tufts of cotton which are produced by the tallest, healthiest plants - that is, the high cotton. Since these were also the most valuable plants, one would only wipe with the "high cotton" if they had a very good crop. Otherwise they would seek out less healthy, less valuable samples for wiping.
The complete and original phrase was "sh__ing in high cotton and wiping with the highest, whitest bolls".
Meaning: To be accepted by the group without question, to have a sure thing.
Example: Don't worry about being accepted as a member at the country club. If you pay the membership fee you will be in like Flynn.
Origin: "In Like Flynn" comes from Errol Flynn's acquittal on statutory rape charges.
Wildly popular, Flynn was a phenomenally successful movie star/sex symbol of the 30's and 40's. His defining role was in "The Adventures of Robin Hood."
Other notable roles include: "Captain Blood", "They Died with Their Boots On", and "The Sun Also Rises."
Flynn was involved in a sensational trial, in which he was accused of having sex with two underage girls on a boat. When Flynn was found not guilty, the phrase "In like Flynn" became a part of the popular vocabulary. The phrase suggests that his acquittal was based on his popularity and celebrity.
The phrase "In Like Flynn" also came to refer to the legendary sexual prowess of Eroll Flynn. Flynn was known to be self indulgent and irreverent. He reportedly had the letters I.G.M.F.Y. on the side of his boat, which stood for "I got mine, F you". When Flynn died, at age 50, he was said to have the body of a 70 year old man.
Thus, if you were sure to get some action, you too were going to be "in like Flynn."
"In Like Flint" is the title of one of the James Bond parody movies starring James Coburn and is an obvious play on the original expression. The other movie in the series was called "Our man Flint". Derek Flint (played by Coburn) was also irresistible to the ladies
