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?

[frank]

You just made that up, didn't you?

Not at all - it's quite a common saying around Nottingham.

[bernard]

Guests are like fish

They both smell after 3 days

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

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.

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

[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

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

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" 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.

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.

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.

[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

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

Regards Bernard

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

[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!