Wierd sayings - Page 5

lumberjim · 10-31-2005, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

But what do you hold the carrot out with, if not a stick? You have to carry two sticks to ride a donkey? They must be damn stubborn.

YUP

footfootfoot · 10-30-2005, 12:10 AM

"happy as a lark"
Lark as in: harmless prank or merry spree. From Old Norse leika (play)

Tonchi · 10-30-2005, 12:49 AM

OK, so much for IMDB

richlevy · 10-30-2005, 08:41 AM

The 'cutting the cheese' incident reminds me that I read that 'breaking wind' means 'farting' (anyone know the origin) in Britain. So if you were to go into a London store, you probably don't want to ask for a 'windbreaker'. I think they use a slightly different term.

I used to love the phrases used on "McCloud".

'Rode hard and put away wet'.
I'm not sure about this one - "Wherever you go, there you are".

Cyclefrance · 10-30-2005, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

The 'cutting the cheese' incident reminds me that I read that 'breaking wind' means 'farting' (anyone know the origin) in Britain. So if you were to go into a London store, you probably don't want to ask for a 'windbreaker'. I think they use a slightly different term.

I think (well, I'm guessing, really) that it has something to do with the sound. You pass wind through the old clenched buttocks and it's a case of it has either struggled to break out, with great effort, or else the very sound itself can sound like a branch breaking off a tree (you mean.... your's don't..!??)

Old related joke: man goes to doctors - 'I have this trouble, I keep breakng wind, their really noisy but at least they don't smell'. 'Take down your trousers and I'll have a look'. As doctor goes to inspect man's arse he let's rip with 20 decibels. The doctor rises: 'I can see the trouble.' And starts to write a prescription. 'What is it something to stick up my backside?'' No, something to clear your nose!'

wolf · 10-30-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

I'm not sure about this one - "Wherever you go, there you are".

I have a mug that says that (nearly ... actually it's "no matter where you go, there you are") given to me by a friend because she knew how much I loved The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension. (He says it during ther performance in the bar where Penny tries to shoot herself and misses.)

10-30-2005, 11:58 AM

CycleFrance, maybe you can help me out with this one. I don't see or hear this expression in the States, but when I read something out of the British Isles, I come across the expression "The penny dropped," meaning the person finally got the idea? Where did THAT come from?

Cyclefrance · 10-30-2005, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marichiko

CycleFrance, maybe you can help me out with this one. I don't see or hear this expression in the States, but when I read something out of the British Isles, I come across the expression "The penny dropped," meaning the person finally got the idea? Where did THAT come from?

First thoughts are that it could relate to early UK public phone boxes (the old red ones). You'd lift the handset, put a penny in the slot and dial the number. When the phone was answered, you had the choice of pressing button A or button B. Pressing B gave you your money back - so if you got a wrong number you didn't have to pay (so long as the other person gave you a clue that it wasn't the right one), an the person receiving the call had no clue as to who had been callng them.. Pressing button A caused the penny to drop and the person at the other end could then hear who was calling them. The identity mystery was solved, but only when button A was pressed, the penny dropped (you could actually hear it clank into the box below the slot), and the caller could be heard at the other end.

richlevy · 10-31-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclefrance

First thoughts are that it could relate to early UK public phone boxes (the old red ones). You'd lift the handset, put a penny in the slot and dial the number.

I'm guessing it had more to do with old arcade machines, specifically the fortune tellers, which would dispense a fortune or some wise saying.

Crimson Ghost · 10-31-2005, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richlevy

'Rode hard and put away wet'.
I'm not sure about this one - "Wherever you go, there you are".

'Rode hard and put away wet.' - A horse riding term. If you rode a horse hard and put him away wet (from sweat), it means that you don't properly care for him. I'm sure that if I'm wrong, someone will be more than happy to flame... I mean... CORRECT me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

We say, "Did you pack?" meaning, bring your own lunch. In New Jersey I think it means "did you bring your gun?"

Why, yes, yes it does.
Usually a .38 with the serial numbers removed, sometimes a .45 as an "equalizer" (NJ/NYC people know), and if you're lucky, a car battery, a set of jumper cables, and a bucket of water.

Perhaps I've said too much...
Fuggetaboutit...

wolf · 10-30-2005, 12:15 PM

"Spend a penny" means taking a whiz, right? (I'm guessing it has something to do with either pay toilets or tipping the attendant)

Cyclefrance · 10-30-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

"Spend a penny" means taking a whiz, right? (I'm guessing it has something to do with either pay toilets or tipping the attendant)

I can take pride in my age on this one as I can bear witness to the accuracy of the answer.

When I was a lad, a day-trip to the beach was a regular summer treat. The public toilets that were abundant at the seaside resorts (known more officially as 'public conveniences') required you to put a penny in a slot on the outside of the door, to release its lock if you wanted to gain access to a cubicle offering seated accommodation (paid for the daily bleaching!). Men who could stand at the communal urinal (could be the makings of a tongue twister there) didn't have to pay, and as you may have already guessed, women had to pay every time (such sexual discrimination was permitted in those days - women had only just got the vote, for God's sake, and the line had to be drawn somewhere!). The saying 'I'm off to spend a penny' became an accepted and relatively polite way for a lady to inform that she was off to the toilet!

Sundae · 10-31-2005, 05:38 AM

I'm not great on Northern sayings as although I grew up north of Watford (Aylesbury, Bucks) its quite a way south of the Watford Gap (if you see what I mean).

Putting "right" in front of a word to mean very sounds Mancunian to me, I certainly haven't heard it in Leicester. Here they use "proper" as in "I'm proper stuffed after having that big cob".

I'm getting used to Leicesterisms now, but I doubt I'll ever call anyone "me duck"..................

Re spending a penny - it was 2p when I was a child. I found those public toilets quite scary. Mum would hold the door ajar so that we only paid 2p for her, my sister and me. I felt something terrible would happen if that heavy door swung closed and always entered feeling that permanent separation from my family was possible.

Now its 20p via a turnstile entrance & I am amazed at the improvement - electric lights, mirrors, soft toilet paper - well worth an extra 18p!

Trilby · 10-31-2005, 06:02 AM

I love this! Now--what is a 'cob'? Like, "I'm proper stuffed after eating that cob of CORN", or what??

Cyclefrance · 10-31-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

I love this! Now--what is a 'cob'? Like, "I'm proper stuffed after eating that cob of CORN", or what??

Something in the depths of my noddle tells me that a cob is a type of loaf of bread or roll/bun, but I may be wrong....

10-30-2005, 12:10 AM	#2
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	"happy as a lark" Lark as in: harmless prank or merry spree. From Old Norse leika (play) __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

10-30-2005, 12:49 AM	#3
Tonchi Victim of gravity Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hiding in plain sight Posts: 1,412	OK, so much for IMDB __________________ Everything you've ever heard about Fresno is true.

10-30-2005, 08:41 AM	#4
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	The 'cutting the cheese' incident reminds me that I read that 'breaking wind' means 'farting' (anyone know the origin) in Britain. So if you were to go into a London store, you probably don't want to ask for a 'windbreaker'. I think they use a slightly different term. I used to love the phrases used on "McCloud". 'Rode hard and put away wet'. I'm not sure about this one - "Wherever you go, there you are". __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

10-30-2005, 12:15 PM	#11
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	"Spend a penny" means taking a whiz, right? (I'm guessing it has something to do with either pay toilets or tipping the attendant) __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

10-31-2005, 06:02 AM	#14
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I love this! Now--what is a 'cob'? Like, "I'm proper stuffed after eating that cob of CORN", or what?? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

10-30-2005, 11:58 AM	#7
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	CycleFrance, maybe you can help me out with this one. I don't see or hear this expression in the States, but when I read something out of the British Isles, I come across the expression "The penny dropped," meaning the person finally got the idea? Where did THAT come from?

10-31-2005, 05:38 AM	#13
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'm not great on Northern sayings as although I grew up north of Watford (Aylesbury, Bucks) its quite a way south of the Watford Gap (if you see what I mean). Putting "right" in front of a word to mean very sounds Mancunian to me, I certainly haven't heard it in Leicester. Here they use "proper" as in "I'm proper stuffed after having that big cob". I'm getting used to Leicesterisms now, but I doubt I'll ever call anyone "me duck".................. Re spending a penny - it was 2p when I was a child. I found those public toilets quite scary. Mum would hold the door ajar so that we only paid 2p for her, my sister and me. I felt something terrible would happen if that heavy door swung closed and always entered feeling that permanent separation from my family was possible. Now its 20p via a turnstile entrance & I am amazed at the improvement - electric lights, mirrors, soft toilet paper - well worth an extra 18p!

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