English language & interesting phrases

[US Iceman]

Frank started a comment on unique sayings we use in the English language. I thought it might be interesting for everyone to share some of the phrases they know or have heard. Perhaps if you know the history/background for the phrase, please share that too.

My favorite is:

I would not touch that with a ten foot pole.

History of this as far as I can determine is from the middle ages when the plague was going on. Apparently, this comment was made as it regarded the picking up of bodies in the street and not wanting to get too close.

[Lc_shi]

Hi Iceman
It's a real interesting topic. For us who are not native speakers ,it's of great help to know more about the history of English phrase. Hope it keeps going :)

thx & regards
LC

[The MG Pony]

Six of one half a dozen of the other.

From my understanding means both options suck so you might as well go for which ever is cheaper or don't bother, not to sure.

[Tycho]

"That stands about the same chance as a paper dog chasing an asbestos cat through hell"

Fairly obvious I think :)

[bernard]

"The cats out the bag"
From old sailing days when the whip was called the cat and was kept in a bag.Also had 9 tails which is where cats nine lifes come from:)

Regards Bernard

[frank]

It's black over Bill's mother's.
meaning there are dark storm clouds approaching

[slingblade]

It's black over Bill's mother's.
meaning there are dark storm clouds approaching

You just made that up, didn't you?:rolleyes:

[frank]

You just made that up, didn't you?:rolleyes:
Not at all - it's quite a common saying around Nottingham.

[bernard]

Guests are like fish

They both smell after 3 days:D

Regards Bernard

[nh3wizard]

Opinion's are like A**holes, everyone has one and they all stink

[slingblade]

Guests are like fish

They both smell after 3 days:D

Regards Bernard

Are you quoting Basil Fawlty by any chance?

[MadApprentice]

"she'll be right" is an aus saying that is a bad habit to say, cause you tend to say that when things are not right.

[Abe]

Money for old rope

This saying originates from the days of public hangings. It was a perquisite of the hangman to keep the rope used to hang his 'customer'.

The rope, however, was popular with the macabre crowds, so the hangman used to cut the rope up and sell it.

[US Iceman]

Keep them coming guys. You are off to a good start.

Hey, I just gave you one.:D

That one must be for horse races.

[Abe]

Blackmail

Kenyon wrote that he was told that the term "Black Mail" came from the armour used in Medieval times. The armour which was worn was called maol and it became black (as described in black market). When the two knights were dueling and one attained the upperhand, he would give the other an alternative of life or death as the sword was pointed at his face. This was known as black mailing someone.

Centuries ago, Maol was the silver which was paid in rent in Scotland. Sheep and cattle stealers would steal the cattle and then try to legitimize the theft by threatening to keep the animals unless the owner paid them rent for the grazing the animals had while they were stolen. This became known as Black Maol or Blackmail. Scots invented Blackmail

:D

[old gas bottle]

that fits like a glove on a chickens lip !!! beat that one.

[nh3wizard]

You can only put so much lip stick on a pig, a pig is a pig

[bernard]

A bank manager will lone you his umbrella when its sunny and ask for it back when it rains:D :D

Bernard

[Andy]

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Meaning something poor is impossible to improve.

Worked on many a fridge plant like that;)

Kind Regards Andy:)

[Andy]

It would freeze the balls of a brass monkey:D

It's a bit cold here;)

Came from cannon balls stored on a brass monkey (triangle thing) that contracted with the cold causing the balls to fall off.

[Andy]

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush:)

meaning you are better off with what you have not what you think you can have:)

[jamcool]

Give this one a try guys "De fus wata hog find him wash" Thats jamaican talk(patois):) ,the English version "The first water hog finds he washes in":confused: Meaning the first opportunity one gets he should take it :)

[Brian_UK]

A British one this one...

"Back to square one."

Came from the days when football (soccer) was broadcast on the 'wireless', radio to the younger ones.

The football pitch was divided into numbered squares and the listener also had a layout sheet. The commentator would then describe the game action by referring to the players or balls position in relation to a numbered square.

When the action restarted at the centre of the pitch it was known as "square one".

[US Iceman]

Andy, Thanks for the one about the brass monkey. All this time I thought it was about a golden simian who lived in the Antarctic and was loosing body parts.:D

I'm still not sure what a brass monkey is though. Something to hold cannon balls? Was this a naval term?

Hey guys keep it up!!! You are coming up with some very good comments. What the heck, I'm learning something here.

[Lc_shi]

Every Jack has his Jill.
I'm not sure if it's outdated

[Toosh]

If he had a brain he would be dangerous.


Meaning he or she ain`t too smart

Toosh

[cool breeze]

That is harder than woodpecker lips = tough or hard materal.
Don't resaddle a dead horse = time to replace old equipment.
It takes two to tango = a fight or disagreement is not usually caused by just one person.
Your a day late and a dollor short = did not finish on time.
Better late than never, this is the reply to day late and a dollor short.
That was faster than greased lightning = very fast.
That was faster than a lizard licking = fast
That will be there till the cows come home = I guess this means that it will be there for a long time because when I hear this said we are not in a cow pasture so the cows will never come home.

[Abe]

Andy, Thanks for the one about the brass monkey. All this time I thought it was about a golden simian who lived in the Antarctic and was loosing body parts.:D

I'm still not sure what a brass monkey is though. Something to hold cannon balls? Was this a naval term?

Hey guys keep it up!!! You are coming up with some very good comments. What the heck, I'm learning something here.


Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey

This saying also has roots in fact in India. The "Monkey" or brass plate to hold cannon balls was used in some on the barracks that were in colder parts of the continent, When the temperature dropped, the contracting metals would cause the pile to fall.

Definition from Lawson Tremellen: On war ships the cannon balls were of iron and the plate they were stacked on beside the cannon was made of brass, the plate was known as a monkey. In extreme cold the two metals would contract differently and the iron balls would fall off the monkey.

[slingblade]

If it wasn't for Venetian blinds it would be Curtains for all of us.

This i think originates from the turn of the century when the industrial revolution gave us steam engines, cotton mills and of course multiple aspect window shading equipment.

[refteach]

Here is something found only in around the Milwaukee, Wi area - "Bubbler".

Basically a public drinking fountian, in old Milwaukee they placed drinking fountains in the parks over artesian springs and the water would bubble up through the raised center of the fountain hence the name Bubbler.

[giovanni]

"A little knowledge is a terrible thing."

when training someone and after 2 days they think they have it down pat

[giovanni]

heres a good one a police friend of mine told me years ago when we were leaving a bar and this gent couldn't even stand up

Look at that guy "FUBAR"

F**ked up beyond all recognition

[frank]

Another classic by Argus "throw out the baby with the bathwater" :)

[US Iceman]

Heres' one:

Pound wise and penney foolish.

[US Iceman]

Here is one that came to mind after hearing an unbelievable comment:

In a pig's eye.

No what could that have been based on?

[Abe]

Heres' one:

Pound wise and penney foolish.


Ice

Penny.............not penney

[Brian_UK]

...and after fubar there is, of course, SNAFU..

An armed forces type comment this I believe..
Situation Normal All Fouled Up

[bernard]

Hi

While working with a fellow fridge man the other day who was being very negative about the job in hand.

I tried to inject some of my enthusiam into him to which he replied a pessimist is a optimest with experience.It made me stop and think, he was correct,the job took 2 nights instead of one.

Regards Bernard

I suppose this is more of a proverb than a old saying

[US Iceman]

Brian,

Here's another one in the same school of thought...

TARFU

"Things are Really Fouled Up.

Of course I leave it to the other members to substitute other possible words for the "F" in the above. At least that's the version I always heard.:D

[bernard]

Hi

Another military mnemonic (The 6 P,s)

Planning,Preperation,Prevents,Piss,Poor,Performance.

Regards Bernard:)

[bernard]

Hi does anyone have a mnemonic for remembering the colour bands on resistors,The one I have is to rood:eek:

Regards Bernard

[Karl Hofmann]

If he had another brain cell he'd need watering.

It's well and truly kippered

It all went pearshaped

Which part of "NO" don't you understand?

You've bought a pig in a poke

[frank]

Hi does anyone have a mnemonic for remembering the colour bands on resistors,The one I have is to rood:eek:

Regards Bernard

That's may be the same one I've heard Bernard :D

[US Iceman]

He doesn't have a pot to p*ss in!

A more polite way of saying this for our non-English speaking friends is: He doesn't have a pot to urinate in.

Another saying from the old days which denoted a persons financial status. In other words, the poor chap could not afford his own chamber pot.

[bernard]

Hi


A few slates short of a roof

A few slices short of a loaf


Meaning a person who is not to bright


Regards Bernard

[US Iceman]

It isn't worth a tinkers damn.

I can't remember what trade a tinker is, but I suspect this saying is used to indicate something of very low regard or worth.

[bernard]

HI US Iceman

I think the saying is related to a tinker a gypsy who would make a living from scrap ect,so if a tinker does not value it then its not worth much at all.


Regards Bernard

[Abe]

Hi


A few slates short of a roof

A few slices short of a loaf


Meaning a person who is not to bright


Regards Bernard


Not the sharpest knife in the drawer

[abdulazman]

Iceman,

Tis sailors phrase '' I need to see the man about the dog ''

Meaning, I need to go to the toilet and ****.

[frank]

You can't teach an old dog new tricks!

[bernard]

Hi Frank

Nice avatar,hope its not the bottom half of your last avatar.:D :D

Regards Bernard

[frank]

Now that would be telling Bernard.

Are they going up or down???? :D :D

[bernard]

Hi Frank

Most definately off:eek:

Regards Bernard

[US Iceman]

You need to watch your P's and Q's!

I heard this a lot when I was a lot younger, but could never figure out what the P & Q stood for.

At the present time, I would rather watch Frank's avatar continue to change.:D

[nh3wizard]

Going to drop the kids off at the pool!!!!!

[Brian_UK]

P's and Q's

Several meanings I think..

1. To be on your best behaviour, mind your Please and Thank (Q) You's.

2. “Mind your Ps and Qs”



There are few of us who have not at one time or another been admonished to "mind our Ps and Qs", or in other words, to behave our best.


Oddly enough, "mind your Ps and Qs" had nautical beginnings as a method of keeping books on the waterfront.


In the days of sail when sailors were paid a pittance, seamen drank their ale in taverns who's keepers were willing to extend credit until payday. Since many salts were illiterate, keepers kept a tally of pints and quarts consumed by each sailor on a chalkboard behind the bar. Next to each person's name, a mark was made under "P" for pint or "Q" for quart whenever a seaman ordered another draught.
On payday, each seaman was liable for each mark next to his name, so he was forced to "mind his Ps and Qs" or get into financial trouble. To ensure an accurate count by unscrupulous keepers, sailors had to keep their wits and remain somewhat sober.

Sobriety usually ensured good behaviour: hence the meaning of "mind your Ps and Qs".

[US Iceman]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for that explanation. That makes very good sense for an exact definition.



Next to each person's name, a mark was made under "P" for pint or "Q" for quart whenever a seaman ordered another draught.
On payday, each seaman was liable for each mark next to his name, so he was forced to "mind his Ps and Qs" or get into financial trouble.


I doubt however, that is exactly what my grandmother meant when she would shake her finger at me.;)

As this thread continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how many of these old sayings were in fact based on some truth that has since been distorted to fit a modern world.

It's amazing what gets passed down as common language from so many years ago.

I am familiar with the one MRCoolingMagic mentioned quite well.

Speaking of holes in the ground, here is another:

During an extremely cold weather condition you might hear someone mention it is colder than a well-diggers arse.

[US Iceman]

"Whipping a dead horse with a stick". No matter what you do, it won't work.:rolleyes:

[abdulazman]

Some old remnants saying, ''Don't teach your brother how to f**k'':eek:

Meaning ''Don't teach me how to run my life'':D

No offence guys. ;)

[Argus]

He doesn't have a pot to p*ss in!




... it goes on and concludes, ".........or a window to throw it out of".


.
________
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[US Iceman]

HI Argus,

Now that's interesting. I have never heard that part of the phrase before.

Thanks for sharing that.

[Argus]

HI Argus,

Now that's interesting. I have never heard that part of the phrase before.

Thanks for sharing that.


It?s symptomatic of the current European Union policy on waste disposal.

You are indeed in dire straits if you have the waste to hand, but not the means of disposal.

.
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[Lc_shi]

All these are good English lessons for me especillay it's for free:)

thanks
LC

[US Iceman]

Here is one I have always liked. It's not exactly a saying, it's a quote.

"Those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

[Abe]

All these are good English lessons for me especillay it's for free:)

thanks
LC


See, its not only refrigeration.......
RE is a great place to "brush up" on your English.........

Lc Shi, China has some great sayings as well........you know.......Confucious say.........
:)

Care to share some??

[Paulajayne]

See, its not only refrigeration.......
RE is a great place to "brush up" on your English.........

Lc Shi, China has some great sayings as well........you know.......Confucious say.........
:)

Care to share some??


Confucious say:-

Man who walk sidways through airport turnstyle going to Bangkok

Man who make love on side of hill not on level.

Man who take girl on camping holiday have evil intent.

War does not determin who is right only who is left.

Man who loses key to girlfriends apartment get no nukey.


Paula

[Peter_1]

Some Funny I found on the net

That's about as useful as a trap door on a canoe!

You look about as happy as a tick on a fat dog.

I'm finer than frog hair split four ways.

She was so tall if she fell down she would be halfway home.

Hell, she could even depress the devil.

You could start an argument in an empty house.

That coffee's strong enough to float an iron wedge.

You look as happy as a dead pig in the sunshine.

He’s so useless if he had a third hand he would need another pocket to put it in!

She's so clumsy she could trip over a cordless phone!

He's so dumb, he could throw himself on the ground and miss.

[bernard]

Hi Never really understood what this ones all about.


" Going Dutch":confused:

Regards Bernard

[frank]

Hi Never really understood what this ones all about.


" Going Dutch":confused:

Regards Bernard

I know what it means but I don't know the origins

[US Iceman]

Peter,

A bunch of good ones.

Here are some more.

I'm as full as a tick.

I'm getting the hang of this. (I'm not sure where that one came from?)

Dressing a pig in a silk dress (It's still a pig, for goodness sakes!)

Making a sow's ear into a silk purse (very thrifty with money)

Dumb as a box of rocks.

[Abe]

Hi Never really understood what this ones all about.


" Going Dutch":confused:

Regards Bernard


Going Dutch means you split costs in half. Equal half shares. You refer to it when you take a girl out for dinner. Going Dutch you each share the bill half

[Argus]

Going Dutch means you split costs in half. Equal half shares.





It's another term for a cheapskate.

.
________
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[Josip]

Hi, all :)

maybe this one doesn't belong here but...it's good to know;)

"Don't ever underestimate the power of stupid people when they are in the large groups"

Best regards, Josip :)

[US Iceman]

Hi Josip,

Another one similar to yours might be;

You cannot make something idiot proof.

Hi Argus,

Do you have any idea of how the word cheapskate was started?

[Argus]

Hi Argus,

Do you have any idea of how the word cheapskate was started?



No idea.

I've always assumed that it was an Americanism.

Am I right?

.
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[Josip]

No idea.

I've always assumed that it was an Americanism.

Am I right?

.

LOL ;)

Best regards, Josip :)

[monkey spanners]

Here's one from my mate Gordon

Tits or tyres, nothing but trouble.:D

or how about

You can't polish a turd.

[US Iceman]

No idea.

I've always assumed that it was an Americanism.

Am I right?


I don't know. If it is, I am going to keep my mouth shut.:rolleyes:

[giovanni]

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."

as compared to an idiot

[Brian_UK]

"Rarer than rocking horse sh*t"

Self explanatary I think.

[Brian_UK]

More on cheapskates.....

http://www.inforesearchlab.com/cheapskates.chtml

also something on the origin..

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/97.html

So its not an American so don't panic Ice, you're not to blame.

[frank]

Been there - done that - got the Tee Shirt :)

[nh3wizard]

Even a Blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while

[US Iceman]

I looked at the second link you posted Brian. You hit the mother lode of this whole thread.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/index.html

I will be spending some time there reading those. Thank you for sharing that. I find these sort of things fascinating as to how the language has developed.

I have always suspected a lot of words and terms used in the English language were a large mixture of Saxon, Celtic, Norman, etc. (with just a pinch of French thrown in)

Also, thanks for getting me out of trouble on the cheapskate thing. That was a close one!;)

[Perseus]

A pot calling the kettle black...


Careful what you say it may apply to you.

[Brian_UK]

Somewhat off topic, but don't you get amazed at the amount of information that is on the web ?

The time that has been expended by individuals, never mind corporates, getting the info together and typing into their machines is amazing (well it is to me anyway!).

[The MG Pony]

yes, yes it is amazing to me as well :)


You can only patch the haul so many times befor your in a paper boat.

An old fishing village type saying, after so maney repairs the haul is weakend no matter how good the repair and the simplist of this can sink the vessle, So the saying goes don't be so cheap as to use worren tools, goes hand in hand with it, when it is time it simply must be replaced. It all so can be considerd as an insult implying the person is extremely cheap, or is a lousy fisherman by saying he has a paper boat.

and then there are a million and one ways to say it and mixes there of to cover every thing.

[US Iceman]

There is no sense in crying over spilled milk!

Must have been from a wise person on a dairy farm...

[Temprite]

As slippery as a butchers prick.

As full as a doctors wallet.

Off like mums undies on fathers day.

Sucks like a well worn hoover.

:D

[giovanni]

Girls who eat sweets take up 2 seats

[mswinman]

Just a couple more

"You can always tell when he's lying........His lips move".


and


"He's the only bloke I know that can open his mouth and fart".

[Peter_1]

English beginners

NL:

Drie heksen kijken naar 3 swatch horloges, welke heks kijkt naar welk swatch horloge?

ENG:

Three witches watch three swatch watches. Which witch watch which swatch watch?

___________________________________________


English Intermediate

NL:

Drie transsexuele heksen kijken naar 3 swatch horloge knoppen.
Welke transsexuele heks kijkt naar welke swatch horloge knop?

ENG:

Three switched witches watch three swatch watch switches.
Which switched witch watch which swatch watch switch?


____________________________________________



English experts:

NL:

Drie zwitserse krengen van heksen, die transsexuele zwitserse krengen
van heksen wilden zijn, willen naar drie Zwitserse swatch horloge
knoppen kijken. Welk zwitsers kreng van een heks, die een transsexueel
zwitsers kreng van een heks wilde zijn, wilde naar welk zwitsers swatch
horloge knopje kijken.

ENG:

Three Swiss witch-bitches, which wished to be switched Swiss
witch-bitches, wish to watch three Swiss Swatch watch switches. Which
Swiss witch-bitch which wishes to be a switched Swiss witch-bitch,
wishes to watch which Swiss Swatch watch switch?

[Temprite]

English experts:

NL:

Drie zwitserse krengen van heksen, die transsexuele zwitserse krengen
van heksen wilden zijn, willen naar drie Zwitserse swatch horloge
knoppen kijken. Welk zwitsers kreng van een heks, die een transsexueel
zwitsers kreng van een heks wilde zijn, wilde naar welk zwitsers swatch
horloge knopje kijken[/QUOTE]

I think I would have more chance of saying it this way than the english version.:D

[Toosh]

You could not have spat two more alike = like two peas in a pod

[Paulajayne]

"I will be two shakes of a lambs tail" ---- Quick



Paula

[US Iceman]

I'm transferring this one from another thread.

Don't kick a sleeping dog.

Curious about this meaning??? I don't recommend it if you want to keep all of your body parts!:eek:

[benncool]

English is a funny language. How come you can say, "I'm getting up at the crack of dawn." But it is inpolite to say, "I'm getting up at Dawn's crack." ?????????

[benncool]

..................

[bernard]

Hi


Or when we say "" cut a tree Down and then chop the wood UP ":D


Regards Bernard

[arcticmonkey]

i prefer "its not life or death its only a fridge"

i use that one a lot.

[bernard]

I agree however the stores seem to think we are the 4th emergeny service:D

Regards Bernard

[arcticmonkey]

in that case my other fave saying is "gone fishing".

[gosully]

You need to watch your P's and Q's!

I heard this a lot when I was a lot younger, but could never figure out what the P & Q stood for.

At the present time, I would rather watch Frank's avatar continue to change.:D

This refers to being polite....Watch your Ps and Qs = Watch your Please and Thank Qs

[brian_chapin]

Here are some different military ones that I wouldn't mind seeing in civilian use more:

Fire for effect — Literally, the artillery or mortar barrage that is the climax of a single fire mission. Figuratively, an encouraging way of saying "get on with it" or "give it a try," hopefully to a positive outcome - As in "well, son, fire for effect." Also a euphemism for ejaculation.

DA Form ID-10T — a snipe hunt for new soldiers. New soldiers are told to get a DA Form ID-10T from an NCO. Invariably, the soldier says he/she doesn't know what that is, and is told to just write it down, and show an NCO. The new soldier usually doesn't realize he has written "IDIOT" and proceeds to show it to an NCO and asks where he can find one. You can easily modify this for civilian situations.

...getting a range named after you — usually used sarcastically to describe someone who tries to be a hero; this is because rifle ranges are often named after soldiers who get killed in combat or Medal of Honor-winners; i.e., "Don't you go trying to get a range named after you."

High-Speed — a highly-motivated and skilled soldier; often used sarcastically when a soldier is motivated but doesn't really know what he's doing, as in, "Slow down, High-Speed." Often used in conjunction with "low-drag or turbo-charged" essentially meaning the same thing.

Nuts to Butts - Often used in basic when in-processing and standing in line, e.g. to get hair cuts or shots, new enlistees will be told to close up the lines with, "Lets go people, nuts to butts. Make your buddy smile."

PowerPoint Ranger — A term usually referring to a staff officer who spends their whole day giving presentations to the boss using MS PowerPoint. "Death by Powerpoint"

Snipe hunt - also known as a fool's errand or wild goose chase, is one of a class of practical jokes that involves experienced people making fun of newcomers by giving them an impossible or imaginary task. For example, inexperienced campers are told about a bird or animal called the snipe as well as a usually ridiculous method of catching it, such as running around the woods carrying a bag or making strange noises. Incidentally, the snipe (various species of shorebirds) is difficult to catch for experienced hunters, so much so that the word "sniper" is derived from it to refer to anyone skilled enough to shoot one

Soup Sandwich — when something is messed up or not to standard; as in, "This formation looks like a soup sandwich."

Square Away to get something organized, cleaned up, functioning or looking strictly to military standards. Also used as an adjective for anything which is in such a form.

[Contactor]

you cannae shove yer granny aff a bus

Scottish saying, meaning : be nice to your Granny. From Glasgow, where unpopular elderly relatives were once thrown from busses, lorries etc in an attempt to bring about their rapid death.

[US Iceman]

I like the military acronyms of:

SNAFU
TARFU
FUBAR

They seem to fit most systems found in refrigeration work!:D

Or, Can someone explain where this came from? " The hair of the dog that bit you."
(used to explain a cure for a hangover).



Scottish saying, meaning : be nice to your Granny. From Glasgow, where unpopular elderly relatives were once thrown from busses, lorries etc in an attempt to bring about their rapid death.


You Scots are a tough bunch.;)

One of my grandmothers would have probably got a shot off first if I had tried this.:D

[PaulZ]

A few snags short of the barbie. Not playing with a full deck. A few bricks short of a load. As dumb as dog ****. (not too smart) The list goes on.
Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.
About as useful as tits on a bull. (useless)
Flat out like a lizard drinking. (working hard)
As dry as a bone. (thirsty)
As full as a fart. (drunk)
Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining. (don't lie to me)
A snowballs chance in hell (no chance)
Opinions are like arseholes everyones got one.
I could sit here all day and list 1000's
Paul

[gosully]

Opinions are like arseholes everyones got one.


.....and they usually stink!

[old time fridgy]

Hi all,

AS FIT AS A BUTCHERS DOG.

DO NOT EAT YELLOW SNOW.

YOU ARE ABOUT AS MUCH USE AS A CHOCOLATE TEAPOT / FIREGUARD

Also quoted before but a very common Black Country saying as well:
A BIT BLACK OVER THE BACK OF BILLS MOTHERS.

Another black country one:
AS THICK AS A DINGLE (dingles are Wolves fans)

[coolments]

Hi all

a few interesting ones i know the origin off from recentley doing a day of falconry. all very well used phrases in the uk

Cack Handed: you call it someone who fails a task you ask them to do with there hands or a clumsy person.

Origin: in medieval england the time before a dog was a mans best friend it was birds of prey, the bird had to be caught on your hand by positioning in a special way on landing as they would normally drop there kids off (take a dump). if you were unable to do this task you would get bird cack (crap) on your hand. and were called cack handed.

Under the thumb: called a guy who is "hen pecked" kept under control by there partner, not allowed out to socialise with friends.

Origin: Birds of prey had a leather strap called a teather attached to their foot, this strap would be held under the thumb of the owner to stop it flying off.

Which brings me to the final one.

End of my teather: said when your frustion reaches its pinical over an issue and action is needed.

Origin: the teather attached to the bird would wear down over time to a point where you could not use it to hold the bird to your hand, at that point you had no chioce but to change it.

[captincodeye]

Autographin the pan,

Bending one round the U bend

[gosully]

A favourite of mine for describing someone that is useless comes from an old Rowan atkinson sketch....

Hes as much use as a 1 legged man in an arse kicking contest.

[nh3wizard]

Ive got to piss like a 10 peckered billy goat.

[thermo prince]

I like Brian's " snipe hunt" expression from 2007 post.
Had not heard it called that before .... growing up in Ireland,working in London and NY and Boston during summers,I think there were many snipe hunts!

Like sending the young apprentice " chippy" (carpenter) off to look for a 'skirting board ladder' ....

Like sending the apprentice mechanic to the storeman for " a pint of tail light oil "

or tell him to move a truck out of the workshop saying
" stick her into reverse and back her slowly forwards " .. that will get them panicky every time.....

Like sending 'the labrador' ( slang for labourer) on the building site to pull or tie a wall or column off "a sky hook" ...

there are many more 'to be sure, to be sure'
regards

[fridge doctor]

No room to swing a cat - Refers to the naval use of the cat-o-nine-tails as Bernard told us very early on. In this case it meant that the room or space wasn't big enough for the flogger to perform his duty, and so passed down it simply means "tight space"

From the same era of sailing ships, "Copper bottomed" today meaning well heeled, best quality etc, In the old days the best ships had copper lined bottoms over the traditional wood so as to preserve them for longer against the sea elements.

[frank]

Apparently, the folks from Nottingham have their own sayings. Anyone visited Nottingham?

See a few local sayings here (http://www.nottstalgia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=71) and here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/features/2002/11/more_nottingham_lingo.shtml)

[expat]

This has been a fun thread to read, thankyou all.

One point though, Coolmints, I don't get the bit about the falcon or hawk messing itself as it lands. It is acctualy quite the opposite that is true. Ie, to lighten the load.

There is however an interesting word in English that comes to mind: Cadger. In English this means someone who is trying to get something for little or nothing.

It comes from falconry and means the man who carried the cadge. The cadge being a square frame that the man (cadger) carried around him at waist hight, with straps over his shoulders and apon which the falcons sat.
At the end of the hunt he was paid only with tips. Hence the name cadger.

[IceMan08]

take a butchers at these,while i order a ruby on the dog n bone.
( have a look at the selection of phrases below, I am just using my telephone to order a curry of indian origin, and a naan!)

Does a bear s**t in he woods? :(
(no!)

Out of the frying pan, into the fire :mad:
(something went wrong, and got worse!)

The s**t has hit the fan :rolleyes:
(something happened, something bad!)

As rare as rocking horse s**t :p
(no chance,not available)

As common as muck :o
(muck is available at various outlets!)


As dry as a nuns..... I cant finish this one as the big man may strike me down where i sit :confused:, and I dont mean the moderator!!!

[Chef]

I just love these 2 explantions In England circa 1500 lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up--hence the custom of holding a "wake." England is old and small and they started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."
Chef

[Don Davis]

We're "Up sh*t creek in a chicken wire canoe."
Hopeless situation

[expat]

Give him enough rope and he'll hang himself.

I'll go to the foot of our stairs. Meaning astonished or outraged I don't know why though.

If brains were dynamite he wouldn't have enough to blow his nose.

I'd rather be in her than in bebt.

Anyone want to know why American GIs called girls poontang in those war films.

[just-chillin]

AS MUCH USE AS A CHOCOLATE FIRE GUARD. ---this was used when talking about an apprentice

DON'T LOOK AT THE FIRE PLACE WHEN POKING THE FIRE.. ---ugly girl friend

[IceMan08]

a sandwich short of a picnic.-not too clever.
he's got a screw loose-not too clever and slightly unstable
away with the fairies-same as above!

If he had a brain cell, it would die of loneliness.