Sayings from the Old Country

monster · 06-09-2011, 09:49 PM

These are some of the manners epithets I heard time and time again as a child in England. I seriously suspect they did not travel well:

Want will be your master -when a kids says "I want...."

She's the cat's mother (rude to refer to a female person as "she", should use her name, but "he" is ok)

feel free to add peculiar sayings you learned in your childhood that really don't work/make sense in your current life.....

footfootfoot · 06-09-2011, 10:01 PM

My dad would say, "Who's she, the cat's mother?"

My buddy says, "How does it feel to want?"

monster · 06-09-2011, 10:03 PM

so some of the old country made it across the Atlantic! That's comforting. They look at me like I just birthed a three-headed communist when these slip out here....

casimendocina · 06-10-2011, 06:50 AM

The cat's mother one is used commonly in Oz too.

Sibling used to hold his cutlery standing on its end so that the sharp bits pointed at the ceiling. My folks used to tell him that there was a little man in the roof that would fall and impale himself.

footfootfoot · 06-10-2011, 09:42 AM

It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Comparisons are odious.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph...

Nirvana · 06-10-2011, 09:53 AM

Never heard of the "cat's mother" funny

You don't know shit from shinola!

infinite monkey · 06-10-2011, 09:53 AM

finer than frog hair

monster · 06-10-2011, 09:56 AM

Went for a Burton.

(fell/tumbled)

Pico and ME · 06-10-2011, 10:06 AM

"Where there muck, there's brass." is what Mom would say to any of us kids who complained about doing a shitty job (like cleaning out the cat box). Sort of along the same lines as when my husbands grandfather would say "Smells like money" whenever they would drive past a pig farm.

footfootfoot · 06-10-2011, 10:53 AM

My mom's mum (from Rearsby, Leicestershire if that is, in fact, a real place) used to write in her diary "Fell off my bike" as a euphemism for getting drunk.

Sundae · 06-11-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

My mom's mum (from Rearsby, Leicestershire if that is, in fact, a real place) used to write in her diary "Fell off my bike" as a euphemism for getting drunk.

I refer you to this post! Yes, Rearsby is not only a real place, but I have been there. And my adored and emigrated Ngiri friend Emma (is that searchable enough?) hs family connections there.

My Mum's specials:
Acting the goat (silliness or bad manners leading to injury)
Polly Long Frock (used especially in the 80s when skirts were ankle length and she disapproved)
Pratty Anna (foolishness, clumsiness)

And from the Irish side
Gommie (equivilant to spastic or downs' syndrome - sorry)
Eejit - idiot, but could be said with more distain
Jeanie Mac - no idea who she was, but instead of blaspheming - draws out nicely with long slow syllables

Blib27 · 06-12-2011, 12:11 PM

In reply to "who you looking at?"

"A cat can look at a Queen".

My mum used to say that.

squirell nutkin · 06-12-2011, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae

I refer you to this post! Yes, Rearsby is not only a real place, but I have been there. And my adored and emigrated Ngiri friend Emma (is that searchable enough?) hs family connections there.

Good lord you have a memory!

HungLikeJesus · 06-10-2011, 11:33 AM

Did she at least wear a helmet?

SamIam · 06-10-2011, 03:57 PM

"A kiss without a mustache is like a soup without salt" - what my Mom said to me when she met one of my boyfriends who had a mustache.

06-09-2011, 09:49 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Sayings from the Old Country These are some of the manners epithets I heard time and time again as a child in England. I seriously suspect they did not travel well: Want will be your master -when a kids says "I want...." She's the cat's mother (rude to refer to a female person as "she", should use her name, but "he" is ok) feel free to add peculiar sayings you learned in your childhood that really don't work/make sense in your current life..... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-09-2011, 10:01 PM	#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	My dad would say, "Who's she, the cat's mother?" My buddy says, "How does it feel to want?" __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

06-09-2011, 10:03 PM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	so some of the old country made it across the Atlantic! That's comforting. They look at me like I just birthed a three-headed communist when these slip out here.... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-10-2011, 09:42 AM	#5
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	It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Comparisons are odious. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph... __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

06-10-2011, 09:53 AM	#6
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	Never heard of the "cat's mother" funny You don't know shit from shinola! __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

06-10-2011, 06:50 AM	#4
casimendocina Professor Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,622	The cat's mother one is used commonly in Oz too. Sibling used to hold his cutlery standing on its end so that the sharp bits pointed at the ceiling. My folks used to tell him that there was a little man in the roof that would fall and impale himself.

06-10-2011, 09:53 AM	#7
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	finer than frog hair

06-10-2011, 09:56 AM	#8
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Went for a Burton. (fell/tumbled) __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-10-2011, 10:06 AM	#9
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	"Where there muck, there's brass." is what Mom would say to any of us kids who complained about doing a shitty job (like cleaning out the cat box). Sort of along the same lines as when my husbands grandfather would say "Smells like money" whenever they would drive past a pig farm.

06-10-2011, 10:53 AM	#10
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	My mom's mum (from Rearsby, Leicestershire if that is, in fact, a real place) used to write in her diary "Fell off my bike" as a euphemism for getting drunk. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

06-12-2011, 12:11 PM	#12
Blib27 If you believe in telekinesis, raise my right arm. Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: London, innit. Posts: 5	In reply to "who you looking at?" "A cat can look at a Queen". My mum used to say that.

06-10-2011, 11:33 AM	#14
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Did she at least wear a helmet? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

06-10-2011, 03:57 PM	#15
SamIam Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Not here Posts: 2,655	"A kiss without a mustache is like a soup without salt" - what my Mom said to me when she met one of my boyfriends who had a mustache.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)