Where do certain sayings come from??

[SRUAlmn]

That's so cool! My mom lives there too

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Originally posted by tkd lisa
What about "the whole 9 yards"?

The whole 9 yards is a war term. Machine gun ammunition is connected in a chain-like manner. Each "sleeve" of ammunition measured 27 feet. So, when the machine gunner was blasting away at the enemy, he was giving them "the whole 9-yards".

 

[CruiserDew73]

Originally posted by perdidobay
scuttlebutt

Scuttle is a fairly old term for a small rectangular hole cut into the deck or side of a ship for light, ventilation, and sometimes communication between decks. A butt was simple a wooden cask for provisions. Traditionally, a butt of water was to last for two days. The problem was, how to keep the crew from drinking the whole cask in one day. Eventually, someone thought to scuttle a butt (put a hole in it halfway up), attach it to the upper deck, and have the water ration poured in each day up to the hole. Before long, the place to get a drink became known as the scuttled butt, and eventually, the scuttlebutt. The term came to be applied to rumors passed around while waiting to get a drink.

They have this one on their wall of sailing terms on the Disney Cruise! I specifically remember this one. I'm pretty sure their explanation was 'Any source of fresh water on a ship'

 

[CruiserDew73]

Originally posted by perdidobay
scuttlebutt

Scuttle is a fairly old term for a small rectangular hole cut into the deck or side of a ship for light, ventilation, and sometimes communication between decks. A butt was simple a wooden cask for provisions. Traditionally, a butt of water was to last for two days. The problem was, how to keep the crew from drinking the whole cask in one day. Eventually, someone thought to scuttle a butt (put a hole in it halfway up), attach it to the upper deck, and have the water ration poured in each day up to the hole. Before long, the place to get a drink became known as the scuttled butt, and eventually, the scuttlebutt. The term came to be applied to rumors passed around while waiting to get a drink.

They have this one on their wall of sailing terms on the Disney Cruise! I specifically remember this one. I'm pretty sure their explanation was 'Any source of fresh water on a ship'

 

[Laurabearz]

More than you can shake a stick at....

I personally can shake a stick at the whole universe and beyond...

The saying comes from herders who often use sticks to help them contain the sheep/goats/whatever.... so More than you can shake a stick at is more sheep than you can handle alone....

 

[joats]

I have a book called Heavens to Betsy (and other curious sayings). It's a fun book that gives the origination of sayings like: For Pete's Sake, Heavens to Betsy...pretty much anything you could ever think of.
I keep it at the office as we get a kick out of searching the goofy quotes from people.

 

[zippeedee]

We just had a conversation about this today at work. My boss's assistant was teasing him about sayings he uses taht "no one understands".
Two of them were "shake down cruise" and "rabbit test". I'm 45, which is 16 years younger than he is, and five years older than the next youngest in the group and I was the only person who knewwhat they both meant. Please don't tell me I'm alone here. My housemate didn't know them either!

We also have a running debate about whether "ridden hard and put away wet" is a sexist remark because no one ever seems to say it about a man. Any ideas?

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by zippeedee


We also have a running debate about whether "ridden hard and put away wet" is a sexist remark because no one ever seems to say it about a man. Any ideas?

Shake down cruise I dont know the origin... rabbit test I know...

Ridden hard and put away wet is refering to horses.... i assume both girl and boy horses.... lol And for the record, you should dry your horse off before putting them 'away'.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We have a book about word origins and sayings by Charles Earle (can look on Amazon and get the exact title). It's interesting to check out when we have a question about a saying.

My mother used to say "hell's bells", which I always thought was funny.

T&B

 

[C.Ann]

My Mom is the QUEEN of "sayings" and has always driven us kids nuts with them - LOL.. I can't think of a single occasion, event or life-happening that she didn't have a saying for!

I could go on and on FOREVER, but a few were:

"See a pin, pick it up - all the day, you'll have good luck.."

"See a penny, let it lie, you'll need a penny before you die.."

"A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.."

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.."

"Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for nothing.."

and on and on and on......................................................

 

[tkd lisa]

I know the meaning of shake down cruise, but I got my education from the Navy community that I work in. Never heard of a rabbit test.