This post is from January nearly two years ago. Rerun includes your comments, just for the fun of it. Enjoy again. I did. Any new ones to add?
Express Yourself
“Hard scrabble” is not a difficult crossword game. Dad’s family lived a hard scrabble life.
A few other expressions we once used which are not heard so much today.
Carl is putting on the dog. Which of course is not to suggest that Carl is going to serve canine for dinner.
Matt earned his degree at the School of Hard Knocks.
Ernie has more degrees than a thermometer, but he he doesn’t have sense enough to pound sand in a rat hole.
Agnes went to college to get her MRS degree.
Liam is too smart for his own good; and
Louise is too clever by half.
I’d like to buy Dunc for what he’s worth and sell him for what he thinks he’s worth.
WHAT’S SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER. GO TO THE COMMENTS AND ADD A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE EXPRESSIONS FROM YORE. DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.
14 comments:
- Shelly said...
- Most of these I knew, but a couple I didn't and I will look for places to use them today!
- January 21, 2013 at 5:32 AM
- Jim said...
- My grandmother used to call a person who regularly did unwise, disruptive things "a fart on a curtain rod." Boy, would I like to know what that means.
- January 21, 2013 at 5:46 AM
- Grace said...
- I typed out a bunch that my father used constantly - but they were very NYC-centric and I'm not sure they fit the criteria. One of these little sayings that I have never quite grasped is - 'Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth' - whenever I come across it (which isn't all that often of late) I have to look it up - my brain refuses to retain its meaning.
- January 21, 2013 at 9:34 AM
- vanilla said...
- Shelly, use them to make them your own!
Jim, yes, that one bumfoozles me as well.
Grace, that's a good one. I've heard it used. Must be a really cold lady, or one whose disapproval is intense. Maybe some of these can be interpreted in different ways? - January 21, 2013 at 10:18 AM
- Secondary Roads said...
- Sadder than a woman with champagne taste and a beer budget.
Slicker than snot on a door knob.
Prettier [cuter?] than a bug's ear. - January 21, 2013 at 10:56 AM
- vanilla said...
- Chuck, good ones. I usually modify the second one by specifying a "glass door knob."
BBBH is sitting here suggesting some she wants to add. Her dad said, You squirm around like a maggot in hot ashes.
Get the chip off your shoulder before someone knocks it off.
Quit wearing your heart on your sleeve.
Your face will freeze that way.
Her grandma used to tell her, You're actin' all pizzle-sprung. Or, This old thing sure is pizzle-sprung. - January 21, 2013 at 11:11 AM
- Grace said...
- And if all your friends jumped off the Empire State Building (or the Brooklyn Bridge) does that mean you should do it too? (Not one of my fathers, just a classic...)
- January 21, 2013 at 12:21 PM
- Lin said...
- Oh, I use a lot of these, but for the life of me, I can't remember them now!! Criminy. I think we use so many of these sayings that we don't blink when we use them--they are like second nature.
- January 21, 2013 at 10:31 PM
- vanilla said...
- Grace, that one may have NYC references, but it's pretty universal, I guess. "Royal Gorge" in my case.
Lin, upon my word, I believe you slipped a couple in there! - January 21, 2013 at 10:39 PM
- Vee said...
- Finally thought of one: "He just grew up like topsy."
- January 22, 2013 at 6:24 PM
- vanilla said...
- Vee, I remember hearing that one. We have Harriett Beecher Stowe to thank for it.
- January 22, 2013 at 8:55 PM
- Sharkbytes said...
- Sometimes I think I'm Ernie. A boy named Jimmy and I were voted most likely to succeed, but the picture in the yearbook wasn't great and my mom said we didn't look like we had enough sense to come in out of the rain.
- January 23, 2013 at 8:38 PM
- vanilla said...
- Shark, I think you have exhibited an abundance of good sense. Success is not properly measured in terms of worldly possessions, and you have succeeded in living a good and productive life.
My dad always said "Now you're cooking with gas!"
ReplyDeleteDumber than a bucket (or bag) full of hammers.
ReplyDeleteDeader than a doornail.
Took off (or Lit out) like a scalded dog.
Sharkey, oldie but goodie. I used to use that one, too.
ReplyDeleteChuck, all good ones. The last one reminds me of the line in the song,
"Old hound dog feelin' mighty fine 'til he fell in a barrel of turpentine---"
Dumber than a box of rocks or Dumber than dirt.
ReplyDeleteNot the brightest bulb on the marquee or Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Lights are on, nobody's home.
If I'm lying, I'm flying and my mother weren't no blackbird.
Thief? He could steal the middle of a biscuit without breaking the crust.
Doesn't have the good sense God gave him.
Wait'll you grow up and have kids of your own.
Grace, good ones! I've used some of these, but never heard the mother blackbird line. And the Thief? That is good. I thought of one I haven't heard in a while: "Sorry don't feed the bulldog."
ReplyDelete