Nonsensical idioms 1

[sleipnir214]

I have had a multiyear ongoing debate with an Australian friend of mine who uses the idiom "flat as a tack". I've pointed out on numerous occasions that the salient feature of a tack is that it's sharp, not flat.

Does anyone have another example of an idiom that seems to defy common sense?

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[ChrisHunt]

Dreamboat

In fencing, if you make a pass at somebody you're thrusting your sword at them. I suspect that's where it comes from.

Maybe in an, ahem, Freudian way which I wont elaborate on here. Maybe in the sense of "getting round her defences" and/or "piercing her heart". Maybe just because the verbal sparring involved in chatting somebody up could be compared to fencing.

Or maybe I'm just wrong

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[toolmantwo]

Dreamboat

I think "hitting on me" is taken from the sport of fishing, and related to getting a fish to bite on the bait.

Example: I just had some great hits, but no bites so far. (thus no catch)

I also have found most times women use the term "Hitting on me", yet I have met women in the 20 to 30 year old bracket who did not know the term. (It seems men do not use the term at all). It may be just used or developed from the west coast of the USA and is still new to some of the women.

 

[petermeachem]

Thinking about 'Blue murder'. If it is of French derivation is it anything to do with Bleu steak, i.e. basically not cooked?

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[tilcat]

In a "late-add" and in case anyone is still interested, I've spent years wondering about a New England expression, "I could care less.", meaning "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

 

[sleipnir214]

tilcat:

See thread1256-845082 in this forum



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