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Funny sayings
Posted by Ali W
Funny sayings April 08, 2019 09:58PM |
Registered: 17 years ago Posts: 676 |
This morning I was thinking about something and found myself saying “sure as eggs”. Then I thought - what does that really mean and where did it come from!
We just say these things at the appropriate time without much thought.
My dad always said “It's a frowsy day” and we knew exactly what he meant.
Anyone else have quirky little sayings?
We just say these things at the appropriate time without much thought.
My dad always said “It's a frowsy day” and we knew exactly what he meant.
Anyone else have quirky little sayings?
Re: Funny sayings April 08, 2019 11:46PM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 3,422 |
Ali W Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This morning I was thinking about something and
> found myself saying “sure as eggs”. Then I
> thought - what does that really mean and where did
> it come from!
>
It is thought to be a a progression of 'as sure as X is X'
-------------------------------------------------------
> This morning I was thinking about something and
> found myself saying “sure as eggs”. Then I
> thought - what does that really mean and where did
> it come from!
>
It is thought to be a a progression of 'as sure as X is X'
Re: Funny sayings April 09, 2019 11:53AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 2,935 |
I love language, the conventional and the strange words and phrases we use. I am often explaining phrases I use to an American friend.
There are several instances but when I said I had to cut through the red tape he asked what is red tape?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2019 01:44AM by Marnie.
There are several instances but when I said I had to cut through the red tape he asked what is red tape?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2019 01:44AM by Marnie.
Re: Funny sayings April 11, 2019 05:45AM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 653 |
Re: Funny sayings April 12, 2019 06:29AM |
Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 607 |
A friend of mine tells me that her father used the word 'slinter' to describe a devious or sly individual or an underhand act. I have never heard of the word and cannot find any reference to it anywhere. Has anyone else heard of it? ...or did he make it up?
Marnie, I think you'll find that, in Europe, very important government documents used to be bound in some sort of red binding to distinguish them from those bound in ordinary twine. There was a lot more time spent and formalities to go through in dealing with the contents of the very important documents, hence in today's parlance, when you have to cut through red tape, you have to work your way through a formal process to reach your objective.
Agree Carolyn the meanings of some sayings have changed over time - the carrot and stick approach is an example which originally meant that if you hang a carrot on a stick (reward) over a donkey's head, while applying some 'stick' (punishment) at the rear end, the combination would eventually get you to where you wanted to be. These days I notice that it is given an 'either or' meaning, so you either use the carrot or the stick but not both together.
Also the expression 'there is not enough room to swing a cat' is taken to mean by many one of our furry little feline friends. However it actually refers to a 'cat o' nine tails', a whip with nine knotted rope ends (representing the nine lives of a cat) used in the UK armed services for beating people who had erred and sometimes by the judicial system as a form of punishment. Apparently the marks it left on the skin looked very like cat scratches.
Regards,
Barbara Anne
Marnie, I think you'll find that, in Europe, very important government documents used to be bound in some sort of red binding to distinguish them from those bound in ordinary twine. There was a lot more time spent and formalities to go through in dealing with the contents of the very important documents, hence in today's parlance, when you have to cut through red tape, you have to work your way through a formal process to reach your objective.
Agree Carolyn the meanings of some sayings have changed over time - the carrot and stick approach is an example which originally meant that if you hang a carrot on a stick (reward) over a donkey's head, while applying some 'stick' (punishment) at the rear end, the combination would eventually get you to where you wanted to be. These days I notice that it is given an 'either or' meaning, so you either use the carrot or the stick but not both together.
Also the expression 'there is not enough room to swing a cat' is taken to mean by many one of our furry little feline friends. However it actually refers to a 'cat o' nine tails', a whip with nine knotted rope ends (representing the nine lives of a cat) used in the UK armed services for beating people who had erred and sometimes by the judicial system as a form of punishment. Apparently the marks it left on the skin looked very like cat scratches.
Regards,
Barbara Anne
Re: Funny sayings April 12, 2019 08:27AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 3,422 |
"Slinter" isn't in the Shorter Oxford, but I found this : [www.collinsdictionary.com]
Re: Funny sayings April 12, 2019 11:43PM |
Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 2,935 |
Re: Funny sayings April 13, 2019 05:16AM |
Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 607 |
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