Wierd sayings

Clodfobble · 10-28-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

It is carrot and stick. The phrase implies reward for doing well and punishment for doing poorly.

I disagree. I think Sundae Girl and xoxoxoBruce are right on this one.

Cyclefrance · 10-28-2005, 06:41 PM

Jesus H Christ! You have wierder ones in the US than in the UK.

Sam Hill??? Who the Dickens is Sam Hill??? And 'right smart' is another one I've never come across, unless it arises north of Watford (over to Sundae Girl...)

Piss like a racehorse - now I think that is a corruption of 'piss (it) like a racehorse', Where the idea of 'piss it' means to accomplish it easily, as in the English cockney 'it was a piece of piss' meaning it was really very easy, as it is to piss (or pass water*) when you need to (although we also use another phrase for the same thing describing something easy as 'being a right doddle' - and I have absolutely no (zilch??) idea about where that one comes from...!)

* there's a joke about this: guy goes to doctors complaining about feeling poorly, to which the doctor asks 'do you find you have trouble passing water?' to which the guy replies 'funny you should ask that, I came over real dizzy on the bus the other day, just as it was going past the local reservoir!' Oh well some you do, some you don't!

dar512 · 10-29-2005, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

I disagree. I think Sundae Girl and xoxoxoBruce are right on this one.

Your privilege. But American Heritage Dictionary of the English language has this to say:

Quote:

carrot-and-stick

Combining a promised reward with a threatened penalty: took a carrot-and-stick approach to the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.

This only make senses if part of the phrase implies punishment.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-29-2005, 09:27 PM

How many of those dictionary writers even saw a donkey, let alone try to move one. They've taken a perfectly logical expression and corrupted it.
Good luck trying to bribe that juvenile offender with a stinkin carrot. :p

10-29-2005, 10:27 PM

Good luck disciplining one with a stick, either. Not that I'm in favor of child abuse, but most of them seem to get off with a light rap across the knuckles these days.

For a hilarious take from an Indian on Tonto, try here

In the movies, Indians are always accompanied by ominous music. And I've seen so many Indian movies that I feel like I'm constantly accompanied by ominous music. I always feel that something bad is about to happen.

I am always aware of how my whole life is shaped by my hatred of Tonto. Whenever I think of Tonto, I hear ominous music.

10-28-2005, 06:41 PM	#2
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Jesus H Christ! You have wierder ones in the US than in the UK. Sam Hill??? Who the Dickens is Sam Hill??? And 'right smart' is another one I've never come across, unless it arises north of Watford (over to Sundae Girl...) Piss like a racehorse - now I think that is a corruption of 'piss (it) like a racehorse', Where the idea of 'piss it' means to accomplish it easily, as in the English cockney 'it was a piece of piss' meaning it was really very easy, as it is to piss (or pass water) when you need to (although we also use another phrase for the same thing describing something easy as 'being a right doddle' - and I have absolutely no (zilch??) idea about where that one comes from...!) there's a joke about this: guy goes to doctors complaining about feeling poorly, to which the doctor asks 'do you find you have trouble passing water?' to which the guy replies 'funny you should ask that, I came over real dizzy on the bus the other day, just as it was going past the local reservoir!' Oh well some you do, some you don't! __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

10-29-2005, 09:27 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	How many of those dictionary writers even saw a donkey, let alone try to move one. They've taken a perfectly logical expression and corrupted it. Good luck trying to bribe that juvenile offender with a stinkin carrot. :p __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-29-2005, 10:27 PM	#5
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Good luck disciplining one with a stick, either. Not that I'm in favor of child abuse, but most of them seem to get off with a light rap across the knuckles these days. For a hilarious take from an Indian on Tonto, try here In the movies, Indians are always accompanied by ominous music. And I've seen so many Indian movies that I feel like I'm constantly accompanied by ominous music. I always feel that something bad is about to happen. I am always aware of how my whole life is shaped by my hatred of Tonto. Whenever I think of Tonto, I hear ominous music.

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