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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 6/30/2009 10:10:22 PM
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Eliana
Posts: 183
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From: Norway
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Katie-Scarlet
Stick out like a sore thumb
A sore thumb would be heavily bandaged and, therefore, literally, stick out or stand out.
quote:
Mind your P's and Q's
Lots of possible meanings for this one. I've heard that it might have come from the days when a lot of printing was done using a printing presses. Lower case p and q could easily be mixed up by placing them backwards. So "minding one's p's and q's" could have originally meant being careful that the type was set correctly, and later on came to mean being careful in general.
Another possible meaning is to mind your "pleases and thank-yous" -- in other words, be on your best behaviour.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 6/30/2009 10:17:15 PM
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Eliana
Posts: 183
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From: Norway
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quote:
Know which side your bread is buttered
A slice of bread is usually buttered on one side. I don't know many people who eat a slice of buttered bread with the buttered side down, or who lay a buttered slice of bread face down on a plate. So this phrase means to know where the good things in your life come from and act accordingly.
quote:
bring home the bread and butter
Think of bread and butter here as the "basic necessities" for life. Thus, the person who brings home the bread and butter is the one who earns the means to provide the family with its bread and butter.
quote:
Its curtains for you
I think this one comes from the theatre. When a play or performance is over, the curtains are drawn across the stage, hiding the performers. "Curtains" means that the end has come.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 6/30/2009 10:20:43 PM
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Eliana
Posts: 183
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From: Norway
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quote:
Hold your horses
A horse which is excited and eager to run off has to be restrained, or held. Hence the phrase which means hang on, don't rush off before you are ready.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/2/2009 4:47:46 AM
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Katie-Scarlet
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Fuss bucket
Chowder head
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/6/2009 4:23:27 PM
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Katie-Scarlet
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Oh my stars! As in Oh my stars look at the time I'm gong to be late!
Shee Shee Foo Foo
_____________________________
Satans job is 24hrs 365 days a year and he never takes lunch, vacation or has a sick day.
Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/14/2009 1:31:47 PM
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allisonbrett
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Son of a gun - After sailors had crossed the Atlantic to the West Indies, they would take the native women on board the ship and have their way with them in between the cannons. Some of the women the sailors left behind would have boys, who were called sons between the guns.
Beat around the bush - Game birds were scared out of their hiding places under bushes and then killed.
Cutting through the red tape - Solicitors kept their clients papers in a file folder tied with red ribbon to prevent the papers from falling out. Of course, when they wanted to get at the papers, they would have to cut through the red tape.
Wet your whistle - Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used to blow the whistle to get some service.
Square meal - Your dinner plate was a square piece of wood with a "bowl" carved out to hold your serving of the perpetual stew that was always cooking over the fire. The kettle was never actually emptied and cleaned out. New ingredients were simply added to the muck. You always took your "square" with you when you went traveling.
Giving someone the cold shoulder - When a guests would over stay their welcome as house guests, the hosts would (instead of feeding them good, warm meals) give their too-long staying guests the worst part of the animal, not warmed, but the COLD SHOULDER.
Frog in your throat - Medieval physicians believed that the secretions of a frog could cure a cough if they were coated on the throat of the patient. The frog was placed in the mouth of the sufferer and remained there until the physician decided that the treatment was complete. (eewww!)
Humble Pie - Servants at "umble pie" which was made from deer waste while their Master and his guests had the better cuts of meat.
Mind your own beeswax - This came from the days when smallpox was a regular disfigurement. Fine ladies would fill in the pocks with beeswax. However when the weather was very warm the wax might melt. But it was not the thing to do for one lady to tell another that her makeup needed attention. Hence the sharp rebuke to "mind your own beeswax!" Makes you thankful for modern medicine and makeup.
Sleep tight - The bed frames were strung with ropes on which straw mattresses were placed. After some time the ropes would loosen and one of the young men would pull them tight.
Tie the Knot - Tying the knot of the ropes in the marriage bed.
The reason for canopy beds - Most English homes of old had "thatched" roofs. Canopies were placed over the beds to keep bugs, mice, dirt, rain, etc. from disturbing your sleep! Of course, I think I would want to stay awake because I'd be so afraid of having to be "saved by the bell"!
Its funny times have changed but something linger on.
_____________________________
Allison
A work in progress so please be patient, God is still working on me. Ouch, it sure is painful!
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/16/2009 10:53:59 PM
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Adrenalinejunkie
Posts: 552
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From: Tennessee -- America at it's best
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This just dawned on me
Where is the world did the word "Okay" come from anyway????
I dunno if that counts as a phrase, but I all of a sudden don't get it.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/17/2009 1:00:36 AM
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dbark
Posts: 392
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From: Canada
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Adrenalinejunkie
This just dawned on me
Where is the world did the word "Okay" come from anyway????
I dunno if that counts as a phrase, but I all of a sudden don't get it.
I don't know for sure if this is correct, but my understanding is that the word okay (OK) came from a west African language that was picked up in America (the word not the language) from African slaves. Apparently waw-ki is a word/phrase that means i agree, or that's correct. Sounds alot like okay.
_____________________________
"In seeking wisdom thou art wise; in imagining that thou hast attained it, thou art a fool." ~ Rabbi Ben Azai
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/23/2009 4:32:02 AM
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Katie-Scarlet
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You all are great at explaining the meanings behind all these phrases and words we use without thinking about it.
Here are some more.
Turn over a new leaf
Lickety split
Oh boy or Oh brother, hoo doggy
Good grief
hot dang!
every cloud has a silver lining - I've never seen it
Pass the mustard as in they don't
and as for single words what about
heck
hey
gams ( I know it was used in reference to womens legs years ago but come on gams!)
< Message edited by Katie-Scarlet -- 7/23/2009 5:16:32 AM >
_____________________________
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Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/23/2009 5:16:02 AM
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Katie-Scarlet
Posts: 295
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Well I'll be! - well you'll be what?
Making moon eyes
That's to die for - really?!
Cost and arm and a leg - if so keep it
In a pinch or I'm in a bind
get lost - do we really want them to be lost or just go away
One worders (is that a real word lol if so how do you spell it)
Gosh
Golly
_____________________________
Satans job is 24hrs 365 days a year and he never takes lunch, vacation or has a sick day.
Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/23/2009 5:28:36 AM
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Katie-Scarlet
Posts: 295
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Yeah that's the ticket
Whatever floats your boat
Aww fiddle sticks
Aww shucks
One worder
Cowabunga!
_____________________________
Satans job is 24hrs 365 days a year and he never takes lunch, vacation or has a sick day.
Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/23/2009 9:32:39 AM
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Adrenalinejunkie
Posts: 552
Joined: 11/29/2008
From: Tennessee -- America at it's best
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I'm thinking that "heck" is a combination of 2 curse words, invented to give an alternative to someone who wouldn't use either. I may be wrong, but when you think about, whenever someone says that, either of those words could be used instead.
This is exactly why I try not to say it.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/24/2009 2:25:56 AM
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Katie-Scarlet
Posts: 295
Joined: 4/18/2005
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I'm beside myself or don't get beside yoursef.
Two things
1. I'd really like to be around the day someone accomplishes this
2. It makes absolutely no sense at all
I was going to say it doesn't make a lick of sense but that doesn't make sense either LOL
_____________________________
Satans job is 24hrs 365 days a year and he never takes lunch, vacation or has a sick day.
Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/24/2009 11:43:11 AM
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Howzat...
Posts: 4261
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: PA, USA
Status: online
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Nothing to add right now, but ...
I love this thread!
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Pam
Proud of my hometown
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/27/2009 10:50:27 PM
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Adrenalinejunkie
Posts: 552
Joined: 11/29/2008
From: Tennessee -- America at it's best
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"You scared the livin' daylights outta me!!"
I used this phrase just today. But I'm wondering, what in the world are "the livin' daylights"?!?!
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/28/2009 11:00:53 AM
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DaveW
Posts: 3812
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: MD suburbs of Washington DC
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quote:
ORIGINAL: dbark
I don't know for sure if this is correct, but my understanding is that the word okay (OK) came from a west African language that was picked up in America (the word not the language) from African slaves. Apparently waw-ki is a word/phrase that means i agree, or that's correct. Sounds alot like okay. I heard it was from a civil war military procurement officer who had to approve a lot of material, and put his initials on the documents: O.K.
For more theories: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okay
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Avatar is my daughter Laura and SIL David on their wedding 9/20/09 ====================================
Our CD is now available here:
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/29/2009 10:25:50 AM
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Katie-Scarlet
Posts: 295
Joined: 4/18/2005
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I came across these two last night while reading.
First things first - ok now maybe i'm just totally missing it but if its first why do I then have to specify that is should be first.
The proof is in the pudding.
_____________________________
Satans job is 24hrs 365 days a year and he never takes lunch, vacation or has a sick day.
Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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Phrases you just don't get - 7/29/2009 5:24:05 PM
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PinkCarnations
Posts: 10816
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Katie-Scarlet
The proof is in the pudding.
hmmm.... I don't know where that one came from either. The only thing that better be in my pudding is chocolate..... and the other stuff that belongs in there.
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Thank you Veterans.
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/30/2009 11:56:48 AM
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Adrenalinejunkie
Posts: 552
Joined: 11/29/2008
From: Tennessee -- America at it's best
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"So long!"
What does that have to do with goodbye?!?
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RE: Phrases you just don't get - 7/30/2009 1:47:17 PM
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Katie-Scarlet
Posts: 295
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No one is saying boo about it.
Your driving me up the wall.
Another one bites the dust.
Opening a can of worms
Bust a gut funny
< Message edited by Katie-Scarlet -- 8/1/2009 8:38:53 AM >
_____________________________
Satans job is 24hrs 365 days a year and he never takes lunch, vacation or has a sick day.
Are you ready to join the war? Know your enemy, prepare yourself.
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