Old Sayings not often said

[Silly Moustache]

The United Kingdom is, by definition a maritime nation. Our long heritage of sailing to explore and to trade (and create the greatest empire), has given us so many expressions.

Here are some ....."POSH" which some say means "Port out, starboard home - which, "they say" comes from the better, cololer cabins when travelikng from the UK to India and back.

"all at sea" = not sure where I am.

"batten down the hatches" - get prepared for ...whatever.

"By and Large" - generally speaking (from the direction/force of wind).

"Chock-a-block" - meaning full or fed up. Very old nautifcal phrapse refrring to blocks and tackles.

"Close Quarters" - origin - very crapmed accomodation, but used to mean getting together to meet/discuss etc.

"Cut and Run" - simply to "leave mooring in a hurry".

"Fathom" - equivalent of a Furrow or furlong but downwards - a measure of water depth, . hence "I can't fathom it/him etc.

"Keep a wide berth" - i.e. moor a distance from - fairly obvious.

"Groggy" - drunk, hungover (Grog was the rum ration)

"Hand over fist" , hard and fast, high and dry, knowing the ropes, loose cannon, on your beam ends, plain sailing, shipshape and Bristol fashion, taken aback, bitter end., cut of your jib, etc., all, phrases in common usage, but originating from British nautical terms.

[DungBeatle]

Originally Posted by M19

If wishes were fishes we'd all cast nets.

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.
~Bob

[Silly Moustache]

When we were in Alpine (Big Bend) Texas in 2004 or 2095, we went to sunday morning breakfast at a local bakers.

An old guy ambled in and was greeted by the staff "How are you Fred?" (or whatever"

His reply was, "well,. I'm hangin' on like a hair in a biscuit!".

That was when I spat coffee and breakfast buns all over our company.

[JosephW]

"Finer than frog hair."

If someone was accused of "losing his religion" it meant cursing was involved or other show of bad temper. REM incorporated that into one of their songs.

"I'm as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs."

If it rained while the sun was shining, I was told "the devil's beating his wife", a fine image for an eight year old.

[Rodger Knox]

Here's a little gallows humor....
When a person is hung, there are two ways to die. The first, and most preferable, was for the neck to be broken. The other was to choke to death.
So, give me a break, or cut me some slack, but don't keep me on my toes!

[fmshoemaker]

"Everything should be as simple as possible, no simpler."

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by philjs

French speakers or hockey players in her family? In Canada, especially "back in the good old days" of the original six, we're pretty familiar with what we called "hockey English." For example, "I don't speak de henglish good but I do de best I are."

A lot of the old sayings that I grew up with were from direct translations of mother tongues. Some of my favourites came from my Granny and her "in her head" translations of the original German, like "Throw me down the stairs my pants." and "Pass me over the salt."

"Side by each" and "close the light" are familiar around this house as my wife translates from her original French. One I've always liked translates as "pretty from far but far from pretty." Too many of my other favourites of hers can't be said in polite company!

Phil

That is funny, Phil. My wife's family is from Rhode Island, and you may know that there is a very large French community in Woonsocket. I'll bet that is how they picked it up.

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

Sounds like you might be from Willimantic ... ... my French-Canadian relatives used to use that expression. I worked with a French-Canadian guy on a loading dock one summer decades ago. He always cracked me up with "back up the truck ahead dere" as he was guiding a trucker to the dock.

They are from Rhode Island...lot's of French folks in Woonsocket.

[Looburst]

Yes, I'm native Texan and the saying was " I'm hanging on like a hair in a biscuit" was something my grandfather always said too. He would also say, "That ain't no part a nothin!"

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by reeve21

They are from Rhode Island...lot's of French folks in Woonsocket.

And in every mill town in New England!

[Looburst]

Let's see if I can remember all the sayings I heard growing up in Texas.
Uglier than a mud fence.
Hotter than a 2 dollar pistol.
Man, he knocked the soup outta that ball. In reference to a golf shot.
She'd stop an 8 day clock. Meaning beautiful.

Now while I heard many others that are certainly not repeatable here, still very funny.

[Scootch]

A small tap with a big hammer is better than a big tap with a small hammer.

[Looburst]

Dumber than a football bat.
That's more messed up than a soup sandwich.
He's so dumb, he can't walk through a door.

[JCook1]

This is a fun thread.

When I was a child and I got upset about something my mother would say to me, "Don't bust a panty button." I always wondered if panties ever had buttons, but I've never seen them!

Jack

[magirus]

When I was a bairn growing up here in NE England, amongst the Durham coalfields, a jocular greeting between mates was "How's yer belly for spots?" Reply "Same as me arse for pimples". A fellow retired Firefighter and I still use it when we see each other.