CouchCoach
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It depends on your age because these began to die off but they were prevalent when I was growing up. The origins were unclear and you had to guess as to the meaning when you first heard them as a kid. Especially when the saying was being used on yourself.
Don't give me all that "who shot John". This was one of the more puzzling but you know it meant get to the point, the facts mam, just the facts. But why John? Because that was a common name and they already knew who shot Abe?
She'll tell you "how the cow ate the cabbage". Took me a while to figure out this meant not necessarily being tactful.
I didn't "just fall off the turnip truck, ya know". Why turnips, do really stupid people grow turnips? Or are they not allowed in town much? Weren't there more mainstream vegetables back then like potatoes and corn? Or was it illegal for people to actually ride on top of the potatoes and corn but turnips were OK?
My Dad's favorite whenever I used the word "if". "If a bullfrog had a shotgun up his butt, he wouldn't be afraid of snakes". This one really puzzled me until I figured out the shotgun would be pointing out because the snake could just slither up and pull the trigger with it's tongue. His was a lot more visual and fun to think of than cows eating cabbage, people falling off trucks or wondering about just who did shoot John.
My Mom had two favorites that she used on me often, one of which really made no sense. The first was "you'd argue with a signpost". This was my early preparation for being on DC forums. Underlying meaning "YOU ARE WRONG, NOW SHUT UP"!!!!
But the one that really made no sense and seemed to be her favorite was "you'd complain if you were hung with a new rope". A, don't think I would be complaining about much of anything and B, I would have preferred an old rope, a very, very old rope. But I am figuring if I am being hung, being a complainer was a minor offense.
I heard all of these, except my Dad's, from my grandmothers as well so I know they were passed down but from whence they came is a mystery.
What sayings were around when you were a kid?
Don't give me all that "who shot John". This was one of the more puzzling but you know it meant get to the point, the facts mam, just the facts. But why John? Because that was a common name and they already knew who shot Abe?
She'll tell you "how the cow ate the cabbage". Took me a while to figure out this meant not necessarily being tactful.
I didn't "just fall off the turnip truck, ya know". Why turnips, do really stupid people grow turnips? Or are they not allowed in town much? Weren't there more mainstream vegetables back then like potatoes and corn? Or was it illegal for people to actually ride on top of the potatoes and corn but turnips were OK?
My Dad's favorite whenever I used the word "if". "If a bullfrog had a shotgun up his butt, he wouldn't be afraid of snakes". This one really puzzled me until I figured out the shotgun would be pointing out because the snake could just slither up and pull the trigger with it's tongue. His was a lot more visual and fun to think of than cows eating cabbage, people falling off trucks or wondering about just who did shoot John.
My Mom had two favorites that she used on me often, one of which really made no sense. The first was "you'd argue with a signpost". This was my early preparation for being on DC forums. Underlying meaning "YOU ARE WRONG, NOW SHUT UP"!!!!
But the one that really made no sense and seemed to be her favorite was "you'd complain if you were hung with a new rope". A, don't think I would be complaining about much of anything and B, I would have preferred an old rope, a very, very old rope. But I am figuring if I am being hung, being a complainer was a minor offense.
I heard all of these, except my Dad's, from my grandmothers as well so I know they were passed down but from whence they came is a mystery.
What sayings were around when you were a kid?
