Idioms Cliches Colloquialisms Etc...

[kwbMitel]

There have been a number of threads recently where some idioms have been used where the meaning was lost for some readers. I wish I could remember the most recent one that was a great example but alas, it is not to be. (Something about a gentleman riding a trolley? - UK origin)

My father was a significant user of many sayings. Most confuse me to this day (He is a Newfoundlander with all that that entails)

One of his more colorful expressions was regarding the consumption of spicy food. He would say "Boy, That'll sure cauterise the hemorrhoids" This example does not require any interpretation, context or cultural exposure. I've found myself to be quite entertained by some of the colloquialisms that are out there that have meaning withing a select group of people but none outside of it.

I am reminded of an episode of Star Trek TNG where an alien species can only communicate via metaphor.

I'm sure we've all got some good ones.

Lets hear them, and give us the meaning if necessary and where it might be used.

I expect that quite a few of these might come from Australia but that may just be a bias on my part.

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[SantaMufasa]

While living in the UK, I heard many expressions that were both amusing and (occasionally) imperceptible:

"He's a real bovvah boy." (He gets into fights [bothers] alot.)

"He's as much use as a chocolate teapot." (i.e., not very useful or intelligent)

"He looks as if his mother stood on his face to wind the clock up."

"Don't get your knickers in a twist."

"Go polish the bolt in yer neck."

"He's a plonker." (...a silly boy.)

"Are you as daft as you look?"

"Stop goin' 'round the houses." (Get to the point.)

"Can I bum a fag, mate?" (The first time I heard this one, I ran away. Then I found out that the bloke just wanted a cigarette...Whew!)

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
“People may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

 

[kwbMitel]

Yes, that's what I'm talking about. A couple of those definitely need explanations.

This thead might turn into S*%T my dad says but the Useless as... could probably be a thread all on its own.

My Dad would say "Useless as Teats on a Bull." (yes, teats)

**********************************************
What's most important is that you realise ... There is no spoon.

 

[Annihilannic]

'ee yer as daft as a broosh!

Sit still! Yer up and down like a wh*res drawers!

Annihilannic
[small]tgmlify - code syntax highlighting for your tek-tips posts[/small]

 

[karluk]

This thread, combined with the approach of the holiday season, reminds me of the famous beginning of A Christmas Carol, in which Dickens took time to poke a little fun at one well known cliche.

Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

 

[SamBones]

When leaving, my Aunt used to say, "Well, I'm off like a dirty shirt!"

 

[SamBones]

I had an Uncle that, when surprised or amazed by something, would say, "Stars and garters!!!" To this day I have no idea what he meant by that, other than by context.

 

[SantaMufasa]

"Stars and garters!!!" To this day I have no idea what he meant by that

Actually, Sam, I'll bet that most people who use that term (mostly elderly folks like me <grin&gt don't know what it means or where it comes from either. But here's the rest of the story...


The Noble Order of the Garter is the highest heraldic "honour" that a British monarch can bestow (or receive) since its first bestowal in 1348. The medal itself appears on a gold star. So, if you have "Stars and Garters" you are of highly decorated nobility. (Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Prince William all have and display their Noble Order of the Garter medal as part of their military uniforms at very formal events.)

As the phrase, "Oh my stars and garters" was originally coined, it represented an oath taken against any "honours" that the speaker might ever have earned in her/his life. It has become, in modern times, simply an exclamation of surprise.

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
“People may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

 

[BadBigBen]

Santa,

"Stop goin' 'round the houses." (Get to the point.) would be equal to "Stop beating around the bush."...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[KenCunningham]

kwb - perhaps the man on the trolley was 'The man On The Clapham Omnibus', by which we understand (or are given to understand by our 'betters' the legal profession), that whatever is being considered reasonable must also be regarded as reasonable by the 'average' (middle class) person who might conceivably travel on the Clapham Omnibus to his employment in The City of London or similar. Something of an antiquated consideration now, but still used occasionally.

The Dickens quote is interesting, but my understanding is that a nail becomes 'dead' when it has been hammered flush to the surface it is being hammered into.

'Star and Garter' as a pub name is quite common in the UK.

For myself, my late Dad's expression on hearing of another of my misdemeanours was usually 'Hells bells and ruddy big fishes, now what?'. I must do more reasearch into that.

My Mum, when having been asked to get me something to avoid my having to move my backside would usually be 'Why, have you got rag arms?'.



The internet - allowing those who don't know what they're talking about to have their say.

 

[N1GHTEYES]

One of my favourites is <getting sense out of him> is like trying to knit fog. Replace <> with any activity the difficulty of which you want to emphasise.

When I was a lad, two common expressions of surprise were...

ee, well I'll go t' foot of our stairs

or

eee, well, I'll go to our gate.

...Don't ask me why.

Anybody not thought to be doing anything useful would be told...

don't stand there like one of Lewis'.

Along similar lines, last night my wife, who is a left-ponder, once again accused me of being the only person she knows to use a particular adjective - one which I think of as perfectly normal if "slang". The word is jammy. As in "that bloke's a right jammy bugger".

So I'm curious. How many of you know what it means?

Tony

 

[IPGuru]

'left ponder'
as a 'right ponder' I like that one & the term 'right ponder' even better as it could mean either right hand site or correct ;-)

Computers are like Air conditioners:-
Both stop working when you open Windows

 

[KenCunningham]

Tony - jammy was/is a normal expression in my (UK) experience, being an expression of how lucky someone is. Without looking it up I'd guess it refers to the luck someone might have if the bread falls butter, or jam, side up rather than down! Alternatively perhaps jam causes luck to stick to someone.

Just to clarify - Lewis' as in the Department Store dummy, yes?

The internet - allowing those who don't know what they're talking about to have their say.

 

[N1GHTEYES]

If you're spoiling for a fight, leave me out of it. I get enough left/right sparring at home.

I really do like your sig BTW. Whilst I am not an IT bod myself, I know quite a few friends who are. I've yet to find one who does not think it is funny.

Tony

 

[N1GHTEYES]

Ken,

Correct, of course, on both counts.

Just to be clear, my previous comment was directed at IPGuru. I sent it before seeing your post.

As to the origin, I have no idea. I was surprised though to find it is not listed in Chambers (full version). I had consulted there with the intention of proving the wider acceptance of the word, but failed to find it - much to my chagrin.

Tony

 

[BadBigBen]

Here are a few that I remember:

chewing the fat - talk about something.
by hook or crook - gaining by every means possible.
go through the mill - SOHK - gain experience through hard work.
the whole kit and caboodle - everything
up sh*ts-creek without a paddle - one is in really bad trouble...
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (or on a roof) - be satisfied with what you have gotten...
a drop in the bucket / A drop on a hot stone - a contribution is miniscule or basically of little worth...
can't cut the mustard - not good enough to compete/participate...
cut to the chase - get to the point...
cutting the cheese - I wont go on to explain this one... ;-)
Knock On Wood - avoiding bad luck...
cup of Joe - (what I am having now) a cup of coffee...

more to come, once I put them down on paper... and do please correct me, where I am wrong in the meaning...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[IPGuru]

N1ghteyes
I was not picking a fight, just an observation

as to my sig I have to admit to stealing it from BSD's fortune cookie program (There are many more like it)


Computers are like Air conditioners:-
Both stop working when you open Windows

 

[N1GHTEYES]

IPGuru, I did not actually think you were, per se, but I could imagine a few left hackles rising. Maybe my domestic bouts have left me sensitive

Re "as useless as":
a chocolate fire-guard
a spare bed on a honeymoon
a spare prick at a wedding
a string shovel

Tony

 

[KenCunningham]

Thanks Tony, on further reflection I guess jammy could also be related to the old expression 'do you want jam on it too?' meaning that despite a person's apparent good fortune they wish to have more - the jam as well as the butter perhsps.

The internet - allowing those who don't know what they're talking about to have their say.

 

[N1GHTEYES]

Ken,

Good thinking that man! I've not a clue whether it's right or not, but it is a nice idea.

Tony