Old Sayings and Quips From our past

Mary Ann · March 06, 2019, 01:56:37 PM

Thanks, Rick, I saved the site for future checking. I can buy MS Word 2016 and may do that. I think it is the same as Office 365 which may be "rented" for a monthly fee. If I have to pay, I want to own it. I'm lucky I am still able to use Office 2007, however, it does take longer to come up than it used to.

Mary Ann

Vanilla-Jackie · March 22, 2019, 04:01:28 AM

I can hear my mother and gran saying this now...

" Wonders will never cease."

so_P_bubble · March 31, 2019, 07:24:46 AM

Its all water under the bridge now.

1013 - Water under the bridge.

but I did not see " Wonders will never cease."

Vanilla-Jackie · March 31, 2019, 07:37:08 AM

Bubble...removed...I will settle for a 50-50..

so_P_bubble · April 08, 2019, 04:04:20 AM

I came across an interesting saying.
"What is bred in the bone will not come out of the flesh", implying something deep-rooted cannot be removed.
Also recorded in the form "What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh", meaning deeply ingrained traits will ultimately reveal themselves.
Earliest documented use: 1470.

JaneS · May 29, 2019, 04:39:53 PM

I just used one today that my grandmother used t use and I'd almost forgotten it. If we said something was "funny" she would ask....

Was it funny "haha" or funny peculiar. (there is a difference)

Marilyne · May 29, 2019, 05:31:27 PM

Jane - remember back a couple of months ago, we were talking about, "I'm beside myself", with frustration, worry, anger, etc? Today I was upset about something, and I said, "I'm fit to be tied!" I had forgotten all about that one, which was another one of my mother's favorites! Similar to, or the same as, "beside myself". ha ha! I think when our generation is gone, that all those old sayings will go with us. I can't imagine my grown children or grandchildren using any of them? $:-\$

RAMMEL · May 30, 2019, 08:59:27 PM

I thought of a couple of new ones today -------------------- but when I checked to see if we already had them, there they were

Vanilla-Jackie · March 24, 2020, 02:00:53 AM

Another of my families saying's...

" this is just the tip of the iceberg."

...meaning the worst is yet to come...

Vanilla-Jackie · March 31, 2020, 06:20:38 AM

As we are now taking more precautions as to going around cleaning and safeguarding our homes due to our current world situation of C -Virus epidemic, although be careful not to over-clean, we need good bacteria too..one of my parents well known idioms was...

..." cleanliness is next to Godliness.."

Vanilla-Jackie · June 04, 2020, 04:57:56 PM

Have we all given up on these...is our book now full, has it been published...

" If the mountain wont come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain "

Another Idiom my family used when i was growing up, can anyone else remember their parents-family saying this...

Basically meaning, finding another - alternative solution..

RAMMEL · June 04, 2020, 06:06:35 PM

" cleanliness is next to Godliness.." is #383

Added -
912 - "this is just the tip of the iceberg."
913 - " If the mountain wont come to Mohammad, Mohammad must go to the mountain "

Vanilla-Jackie · June 04, 2020, 06:14:26 PM

Rammel...
... are we on our second book, and if so, how much did we make on the publishing of our first book...will it keep us well in our retirement...

RAMMEL · June 04, 2020, 08:06:08 PM

Quote from: Vanilla-Jackie on June 04, 2020, 06:14:26 PMRammel...
... are we on our second book, and if so, how much did we make on the publishing of our first book...will it keep us well in our retirement...

Well, - - - It didn't sell very well. I bought two copies and since then it has gone out of print
I had trouble finding my file as my old computer died and I'm now using a HP Win-10 puter.

Vanilla-Jackie · June 05, 2020, 12:39:16 AM

You only bought two copies, i bought three...just in case they go up in value...

we might be...

" sitting on a goldmine "

Vanilla-Jackie · July 08, 2020, 06:35:48 AM

Now who remembers this one, our parents telling us this...

" have you taken leave of your senses girl."

JaneS · August 06, 2020, 09:56:43 PM

I still like....

It give me the willies!

so_P_bubble · August 07, 2020, 09:21:31 AM

and I like "raining cats and dogs"... I could just imagine if it really happened! lol

I did hear that in some place it was raining dozens of live fish: transported by a tornado.

JaneS · August 09, 2020, 11:06:21 PM

BUBBLE, I still use the one my dad used to use about the rain...

"It's raining pitchforks with sawlogs for handles". Lot's of people these days don't know that a sawlog is the whole tree just before it went into the mill to be made into boards. Those were pretty big pitchforks coming down in my Dad's storm!

Vanilla-Jackie · November 15, 2020, 05:49:14 AM

Rammel, will this post entice you back...

Another well known Idiom from my family referring to somebody dodgy...

"He cooked the books "

...altering account figures and data to make things look better...

Vanilla-Jackie · November 16, 2020, 06:54:39 AM

Still no sign of Rammel, i shouted loud enough to wake the neighbourhood...anyway..

..." we have to take the rough with the smooth " as my parents drummed into me...

Amy · January 01, 2021, 11:38:57 AM

ENJOY...
In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.' Since artists in those days know that hands and arms were far more difficult to paint.

As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig.' Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board..'

Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.' Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a smile'. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . Therefore, the expression 'losing face.'

Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced'. . Wore a tightly tied lace.

Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades.' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck.'

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some ale' and listen to people's conversations and political concerns.. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'
*******
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the term minding your 'P's and 'Q's

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations.

However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you ... : )

If you don't send this fabulous bit of historic knowledge to any and all your unsuspecting friends:
Then let's hope & pray that your floppy doesn't fall off your hard drive and kill your poor mouse ... : (

JaneS · January 24, 2021, 09:57:12 PM

i think I knew all that stuff at one time or another. I remember my dad telling me about the brass monkeys but I forget how old I was at the time. It's nice to be reminded of all of it. Thanks!

Vanilla-Jackie · May 01, 2021, 01:48:19 AM

Keeping this thread going, as no posters in the last few months...

My late father often would say....

" Its goodnight Vienna "

...meaning...it's all over, nothing else can be done...

Vanilla-Jackie · May 01, 2021, 09:29:27 AM

Another well known idiom springs to mind...

"dont ever darken my doorstep again "

...said when someone is not welcome...

Amy · June 18, 2021, 10:00:31 AM

Here is another one for you Jane..

The Basic Rules for Clotheslines

By Kindred Grace

1. You had to hang the socks by the toes, not the top.

2. You hung pants by the bottom/cuffs, not the waistbands.

3. You had to wash the clothesline(s) before hanging any clothes.

4. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order, "whites" with "whites" and hang them first.

5. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders, always by the tail. What would the neighbors think?

6. Wash day was on Monday. Never hang clothes on the weekend or on Sunday, for Heaven's sake.

7. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide your "unmentionables" in the middle. (perverts and busybodies, y'know!)

8. It didn't matter if it was sub-zero weather, clothes would freeze dry. And they did. Almost.

9. Always gather the clothespins when taking down dry clothes. Pins left on the lines were "tacky" and they got dirty and broke more easily.

10. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothespins, but shared one with the next item.

11. Clothes off the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket, and ready to be ironed.

12. IRONED! Well, that's a whole other subject.

JaneS · June 19, 2021, 07:12:50 AM

When I was little, the house where I lived was higher in the back than the front. That was true of all the houses on my block and we all had the kind of lines referred to as "Pully Lines". The were hooked on one end to the house and on the other end to a big tree at the end of the lot. Since it was a hill, you couldn't reach the clothes from the ground. You stood on the porch and added clothes to the line, pulled on the top line and the clothes moved away, making room for more clothes. It was a pretty ingenious idea for it's time!

Vanilla-Jackie · July 16, 2021, 02:11:15 AM

" Get it down the hatch " brings back fond memories of my father telling me, or anyone to drink up.... your beer or spirit...

MarsGal · July 24, 2021, 11:16:03 AM

With something of a smirk on his face, at dinner my Dad used to say to us girls (no boys in the family) "Eat your spinach. It will put hair on your chest." Dad liked to watch cartoons with us on Saturday mornings. Popeye was one of them.

Vanilla-Jackie · July 24, 2021, 12:41:06 PM

MarsGal...yes i was told that one too, and did it put hairs on your chest?...thankfully none grew on mine...

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Old Sayings and Quips From our past

Mary Ann

Vanilla-Jackie

so_P_bubble

Vanilla-Jackie

so_P_bubble

JaneS

Marilyne

RAMMEL

Vanilla-Jackie

Vanilla-Jackie

Vanilla-Jackie

RAMMEL

Vanilla-Jackie

RAMMEL

Vanilla-Jackie

Vanilla-Jackie

JaneS

so_P_bubble

JaneS

Vanilla-Jackie

Vanilla-Jackie

Amy

JaneS

Vanilla-Jackie

Vanilla-Jackie

Amy

JaneS

Vanilla-Jackie

MarsGal

Vanilla-Jackie