Strange sayings that we have

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:44

I wonder if strange sayings are just a British thing,or world wide.When someone is ill,a common saying is "feeling under the weather" why?????? anyone have any suggestions or other sayings,

Paul.

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:49

UNDER THE WEATHER - "Ik Marvel, a pseudonym that resulted from a misprinting of J.K. Marvel, was the pen name of American author Donald Grant Mitchell. In his 'Reveries of a Bachelor' (1850) Ik Marvel is the first to record 'under the weather,' which has been a synonym for everything from 'ill and indisposed' to 'financially embarrassed' and 'drunk,' and has even been a synonym for 'the discomfort accompanying menstruation." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).





Read more: What is the origin of the phrase "under the weather"? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/587945#ixzz19opkvQoR

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:50

The best one for me used to be people coming into hospital and saying 'I have a needle phobia'





They were covered in tattoos for goodness sake!



Chris

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:51

Cheers for the link,

Paul.

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 22:58

where did "cannon fodder " come from ?????



http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cannon%20fodder

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:01

What about dutch courage (no pun intended Hans)

Paul.

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:01

When the axe went into the woods, the trees said: "The handle's one of us."

Turkish proverb.

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:02

French letter ..???

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:02

"If in doubt, mumble."

Anon.

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:03

Paul, some say it was used by sailors many years ago to describe being ill or seasick and sent below decks ie under the weather. There are of course numerous sayings of unknown or uncertain origin. I often wonder how something can be "whiter than white" especially as there does not seem to be any "blacker than black" unless "pitch black" ?

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:03

Msg 8,



"Bonjour ma cherie..."

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
01/01/2011 23:04

PC restrictions on "whiter than white" and "blacker than black".

Play the white man for gawd's sake. ;)

littlejohn


Joined: 09/03/2009
Posts: 316

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 02:09

As the Dublin cabbie said to his customers " follow me - I,m right behind you "

apc2010


Joined: 28/07/2010
Posts: 1689

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 02:30

msg 3 ..are you sure they said" needle phobia' " ...........not I hate pricks .???????????????

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 07:28

APC... As we all know, you are bound to have heard that many times...

pollymarples


Joined: 08/08/2010
Posts: 1778

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 09:24

None so blind as those that will not see.

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 11:20

Bejasus, Littlejohn, have heard that one twice once before so I have. Begorrah maybe its tommorer !

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 13:33

Well, it's 'all done and dusted then'?

Denny


Joined: 09/12/2010
Posts: 261

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 13:51

Empty kettles make the most sound.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Knowledge is power.

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 14:47

Coopers Ducks, I think that one came from Gornal, Nr. Dudley.

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 15:07

My Welsh mother in law used to say '' Now in a minute'', bless her

Blackbird



Joined: 11/08/2009
Posts: 1432

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 15:10

For the Welsh...'Who's coat is that jacket?'...'Who's boot is that shoe?'

hilda


Joined: 10/09/2009
Posts: 80

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 15:22

newlad,

Dutch courage,

The Netherlands used to be a rival of Britain,Britain use to say the dutch were cowards unless they were intoxicated,as we really know,the dutch are very brave race.

dreamer


Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 189

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 16:09

(Nipper) a young child employed within the carpet industry to cut the excess theads of the looms



(Son of a gun ) a child born at sea to a naval gunner alongside his cannon this small space would be shared with his wife.



2011 a year to revitalise those brain cells for those who have any left !



lets keep them going.

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 16:50

Naval:

Freese the balls off a brass monkey: Cannon ball base plate gets cold contracts and stacked balls fall off

In the doldrums: no wind

Pull your finger out: gun lad kept finger on prime just before ignition

In the offing: offing was inshore so in the offing was going out to sea coming to harbour

Money for old rope: selling old rope for cash

Over a barrel: ready for flogging

Square meal:



Army

Dhobing: washing (India)

Char: tea ( India)

Dulally Tap: from and old Army camp in Deolali and 'tap' is apparently a feverish state - a little mad or eccentric



RAF

Where's the Hotel?

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 16:52

What the Fu.....



Mayor of Hiroshima

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 16:56

Another one comes to mind. Told to me by a friend.



When playing out - doing something rough, my friends mother shouted, " and if you break a leg don 't come running to me"

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 17:47

Army. "half time oranges" not oranges for half time. "Beds WILL be made up, as laid down in Standing Orders" ! Sign at All Ranks Ball "offficers and their ladies, senior ranks and their wives, other ranks and their women" !!

ttoli


Joined: 24/03/2007
Posts: 1172

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 18:37

When mentioning that you are off/Been on your Holidays "Oh !, Anywhere Nice"?, No, Ive booked two weeks in Basra!

Pandy


Joined: 27/08/2010
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 18:45

What about the saying 'it's raining cats and dogs'.

janjin



Joined: 10/04/2008
Posts: 488

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 18:54

Rule of thumb - When flour is milled the first past through the mill stone of the grain creates a rougher flour. The miller rubs the flour between thier finger and thumb to access the flour.

If he wanted a finer flour he would process it further. So the standard of the flour was by 'rule of thumb'.

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 19:03

Pandy. It is in case you step into a poodle !

Pandy


Joined: 27/08/2010
Posts: 171

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 19:23

Deputydawg ....that's an interesting one!



Do I need a particular accent to say 'poodle' ? Lol x

Pugwash


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 1797

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 19:37

Yenitom good one look here for stories of Deolali



http://www.far-eastern-heroes.org.uk/alberts_war/html/doolally_tap.htm

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
02/01/2011 21:08

'Here we are in the mouth of Christmas' OR ( New Year, Easter OR The Twelfth Fortnight! )



Maybe it is an Norn Iron Thing..............