Strange Phrases, Why do they mean that?

BLUEeyedBanshee · 04-25-2007, 01:57 PM

Ok, I figure I'll put this thread here, and because we have so many folks from across the pond maybe they can help me.

I've recently stumbled across the phrase "pissed as the proverbial newt"

I understand it means very very drunk, however, what is bugging me now is. Why does it mean that? What does a newt have to do with anything? And what's the proverb linked to said newt?

I understand the phrase "drunk as a skunk" makes about as much sense, but hey, drunk and skunk rhyme.

Alrighty, so we can all put up phrases we want to know why they mean what they mean, and some of us may have an answer or two or three.

Paw Paw · 04-25-2007, 03:49 PM

Down south I was " High as a Cooterbug." What is a Cooterbug? GEF?

"Three sheets to the wind." A nautical term. Meaning to have three sails, full of wind. How does this translate to drunk?

My favorite Canadian saying: "Fuck All". As in, " You know fuck all!" It means you know nothing. I don't get it. I must have been one dumb ass. Took me five years to realize what it meant.

Peace,
2P.

Green Eyed Fairy · 04-25-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paw Paw

Down south I was " High as a Cooterbug." What is a Cooterbug? GEF?

"Three sheets to the wind." A nautical term. Meaning to have three sails, full of wind. How does this translate to drunk?

My favorite Canadian saying: "Fuck All". As in, " You know fuck all!" It means you know nothing. I don't get it. I must have been one dumb ass. Took me five years to realize what it meant.

Peace,
2P.

Are you asking me because I live in the South, too? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure but will investigate this word with you.

Well, we all know what cooties are, right? Ewwwwwwwwww

I have also heard the word "cooter" used in reference to private parts...

So a cooterbug could be a bug on your cooter i.e. like crabs?

You DID ask......

Oh, and I like FUCK ALL- it seems more polite than the usual "fuck all ya'll"

MisticalMisty · 04-25-2007, 05:06 PM

I've never heard high as a cooterbug...I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown though..LOL

BLUEeyedBanshee · 04-25-2007, 06:32 PM

I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown, however, I would like to know who the hell Cooter Brown is...

MisticalMisty · 04-25-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEeyedBanshee

I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown, however, I would like to know who the hell Cooter Brown is...

humm...I want to say it's a reference to Cooter off of Dukes of Hazzard..but I could be way off base..LOL

GoddessNoir · 04-25-2007, 07:28 PM

Living the life of Riley.

Who is Riley and just how great was his life?

Wayne_Zitkus · 04-25-2007, 07:28 PM

Then there was the one my late mother used to say all the time:

"It's six of one, half a dozen of the other."

THEY'RE BOTH SIX!!!!!

BLUEeyedBanshee · 04-25-2007, 07:39 PM

And how about that darned "You can't have your cake and eat it too." What good is cake that remains not eaten? Seriously? It'll get stale then moldy and be wasted.

However these days it'd have to be gluten free cake.

Fuzzy · 04-25-2007, 08:34 PM

What about....

Oh for Pete's sake! Oh for the Love of Pete. Damn Straight! My Bad.

Paw Paw · 04-26-2007, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Eyed Fairy

Are you asking me because I live in the South, too? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure but will investigate this word with you.

Well, we all know what cooties are, right? Ewwwwwwwwww

I have also heard the word "cooter" used in reference to private parts...

So a cooterbug could be a bug on your cooter i.e. like crabs?

You DID ask......

Oh, and I like FUCK ALL- it seems more polite than the usual "fuck all ya'll"

I HAD to ask. Didn't I?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisticalMisty

I've never heard high as a cooterbug...I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown though..LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEeyedBanshee

I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown, however, I would like to know who the hell Cooter Brown is...

He was apparently some serious drunk.

Peace,
2P.

Paw Paw · 04-26-2007, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne_Zitkus

Then there was the one my late mother used to say all the time:

"It's six of one, half a dozen of the other."

THEY'RE BOTH SIX!!!!!

That is the point. They are the same. Meaning that it really does not matter.

Peace,
2P.

Ruby Ripples · 04-26-2007, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEeyedBanshee

Ok, I figure I'll put this thread here, and because we have so many folks from across the pond maybe they can help me.

I've recently stumbled across the phrase "pissed as the proverbial newt"

I understand it means very very drunk, however, what is bugging me now is. Why does it mean that? What does a newt have to do with anything? And what's the proverb linked to said newt?

I understand the phrase "drunk as a skunk" makes about as much sense, but hey, drunk and skunk rhyme.

Alrighty, so we can all put up phrases we want to know why they mean what they mean, and some of us may have an answer or two or three.

I only know that saying as "pissed as a newt". So many things seem to change when they reach the US. I think if you take the "proverbial" part out, you will have the correct saying and can take your investigation from there. I just always kind of assumed that they used a newt since it was in water.... kind of related to the saying "he/she drinks like a fish". .... what do you think? lol

Someone was asking in chat how "Ring around the Rosies" was anything to do with the plague, and what "ashes" had to do with it.

Again, this nursery rhyme has been changed in the US, and doesn't make much sense any more. The version we know here, is as follows

Ring, A Ring O' Rosies

Ring, a ring o' rosies
a pocketful of posies
Atishoo! Atishoo! we all fall down.

The ring of roses was the circular red rash that appeared on the bodies of plague sufferers as an early symptom.

The pocketful of posies was a nosegay - a little bundle of dried flowers and herbs carried by people as it was thought if one raised this to the nose and breathed with it there, it would protect them from the plague.

Atishoo! Atishoo was sneezing, one of the later symptoms of the illness

We all fall down - dead lol.

Ruby Ripples · 04-26-2007, 08:07 AM

This cliché originated from 18th-19th century English Naval language. The original saying was, ‘three sheets in the wind’ and referred to the unpredictable performance of a ship that had lost control of all of its three sails. The word sheet is the nautical word for the ropes that were used to adjust the position of the sails in relation to the wind. When the sheets were broken or the sailors lost control of them, they were said to be ‘in the wind’. If the sheets on all three masts were ‘in the wind’, the sailors lost all ability to steer the ship.

Meaning of Cliché:The phrase “three sheets to the wind” was one that sailors also began to use when referring to someone who was drunk or highly intoxicated. This was because a person’s wobbling and stumbling while drunk was likened to the ship’s lack of control when the sheets on all three masts were unusable.

(taken from - http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~jrs59/Cliche.html )

The Life of RileyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Living the life of Riley" suggests an ideal life of prosperity and contentment, possibly living on someone else's money, time or work. Rather than a negative freeloading or golddigging aspect, it instead implies that someone is kept or advantaged. The expression was popular in the 1880s, a time when James Whitcomb Riley's poems depicted the comforts of a prosperous home life [1], but it could have an Irish origin: After the Riley clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called “O'Reillys” and “Reilly's,” became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was “living on his Reillys.”

Paw Paw · 04-26-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby Ripples

This cliché originated from 18th-19th century English Naval language. The original saying was, ‘three sheets in the wind’ and referred to the unpredictable performance of a ship that had lost control of all of its three sails. The word sheet is the nautical word for the ropes that were used to adjust the position of the sails in relation to the wind. When the sheets were broken or the sailors lost control of them, they were said to be ‘in the wind’. If the sheets on all three masts were ‘in the wind’, the sailors lost all ability to steer the ship.

Meaning of Cliché:The phrase “three sheets to the wind” was one that sailors also began to use when referring to someone who was drunk or highly intoxicated. This was because a person’s wobbling and stumbling while drunk was likened to the ship’s lack of control when the sheets on all three masts were unusable.

(taken from - http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~jrs59/Cliche.html )

The Life of RileyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Living the life of Riley" suggests an ideal life of prosperity and contentment, possibly living on someone else's money, time or work. Rather than a negative freeloading or golddigging aspect, it instead implies that someone is kept or advantaged. The expression was popular in the 1880s, a time when James Whitcomb Riley's poems depicted the comforts of a prosperous home life [1], but it could have an Irish origin: After the Riley clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called “O'Reillys” and “Reilly's,” became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was “living on his Reillys.”

Should the name of this thread be: " Ask Ruby" ?

The phone is ringing. It's Jeopardy for Ruby.

Thanks hon.

Peace,
2P.

Jes · 04-26-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne_Zitkus

Then there was the one my late mother used to say all the time:

"It's six of one, half a dozen of the other."

THEY'RE BOTH SIX!!!!!

yes, but that's the point of that phrase. it's an either/or thing. as in: it don't matter which you pick, it comes out to the same thing.

Jes · 04-26-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paw Paw

That is the point. They are the same. Meaning that it really does not matter.

Peace,
2P.

well now. i should have read ahead!

Ruby Ripples · 04-26-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paw Paw

Should the name of this thread be: " Ask Ruby" ?

The phone is ringing. It's Jeopardy for Ruby.

Thanks hon.

Peace,
2P.

I've been trying to take threads over for years but they keep thwarting me. Just because I'm ruthlessly driven, bossy and opinionated, and a fund of useless information.... *sigh*

BLUEeyedBanshee · 04-26-2007, 06:29 PM

Heheheheheh hahahahaha....I didn't even think to take proverbial out...but here's what the urban dictionary had to say about it.

Too drunk to walk straight. Reference to the natural wobbling gait of a newt.

I love you Ruby, My wonderful Hamster sis!

FreeThinker · 04-26-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne_Zitkus

Then there was the one my late mother used to say all the time:

"It's six of one, half a dozen of the other."

THEY'RE BOTH SIX!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paw Paw

That is the point. They are the same. Meaning that it really does not matter.

Peace,
2P.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jes

yes, but that's the point of that phrase. it's an either/or thing. as in: it don't matter which you pick, it comes out to the same thing.

My boss just never grasped the concept of this, I think. He'll say "A dozen of one, a half-dozen of the other..."

Waxwing · 04-26-2007, 06:31 PM

This is my new favorite thread. of all time.

I know I have a million but I can't think of them now.

PhillyFA · 04-26-2007, 07:33 PM

Does anyone know why a 25 cent piece is called a "case quarter"? When I worked in a gas station, people would come in for a quarter for the air machine, & always ask for a case quarter. I always asked everyone who asked why it was called that, & no one had an answer.

Green Eyed Fairy · 04-26-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyFA

Does anyone know why a 25 cent piece is called a "case quarter"? When I worked in a gas station, people would come in for a quarter for the air machine, & always ask for a case quarter. I always asked everyone who asked why it was called that, & no one had an answer.

LMFAO!! omg...you just brought back memories of when *I* worked in a convenience store and people were always asking that.... one of the guys I worked with started joking about it and drew a picture of a quarters lined up in a case and it was the end for me- I had a hard time not laughing when someone asked me for a case quarter after that

and it doesn't seem to mean "change of a dollar" because when they gave me nickels and dimes and wanted a quarter they would ask for a case quarter too.

Waxwing · 04-26-2007, 08:10 PM

It means a quarter rather than any other change denominations which add up to .25

Ruby Ripples · 04-27-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreeThinker

My boss just never grasped the concept of this, I think. He'll say "A dozen of one, a half-dozen of the other..."

LOL!! Sometimes I love when people get metaphors and sayings wrong, other times it irritates the heck out of me. That one would annoy me!! I used to work with a woman who used them all the time, got them hilariously wrong, mixed them up with each other and had no idea. I think my favourite one was ... one day when particularly flustered and harrassed she threw her arms into the air and exclaimed - "I feel like a...a... pea on a hot mountain!!". I think I laughed for about half an hour at that... but then I'm kinda sad that way

.

04-25-2007, 01:57 PM	#1
BLUEeyedBanshee Ministry of Truth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,307	Strange Phrases, Why do they mean that? Ok, I figure I'll put this thread here, and because we have so many folks from across the pond maybe they can help me. I've recently stumbled across the phrase "pissed as the proverbial newt" I understand it means very very drunk, however, what is bugging me now is. Why does it mean that? What does a newt have to do with anything? And what's the proverb linked to said newt? I understand the phrase "drunk as a skunk" makes about as much sense, but hey, drunk and skunk rhyme. Alrighty, so we can all put up phrases we want to know why they mean what they mean, and some of us may have an answer or two or three. __________________ Don't bail; the best pieces of gold are at the bottom of the barrel of crap. - Randy Pausch

04-25-2007, 03:49 PM	#2
Paw Paw Hunting Cougars Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: East of Ann Arbor Posts: 519	Down south I was " High as a Cooterbug." What is a Cooterbug? GEF? "Three sheets to the wind." A nautical term. Meaning to have three sails, full of wind. How does this translate to drunk? My favorite Canadian saying: "Fuck All". As in, " You know fuck all!" It means you know nothing. I don't get it. I must have been one dumb ass. Took me five years to realize what it meant. Peace, 2P. __________________ Just livin, before I die...

04-25-2007, 06:32 PM	#5
BLUEeyedBanshee Ministry of Truth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,307	I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown, however, I would like to know who the hell Cooter Brown is... __________________ Don't bail; the best pieces of gold are at the bottom of the barrel of crap. - Randy Pausch

04-25-2007, 07:28 PM	#7
GoddessNoir Milkmaid Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 396	Living the life of Riley. Who is Riley and just how great was his life? __________________ Helped are those that know. - Shug Avery Ecstasy is uncut forests and the smell of fresh baked bread. - Arvuyeda

04-25-2007, 07:28 PM	#8
Wayne_Zitkus Proud FA Since 1962 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Deepindahearta, Texas Posts: 5,528	Then there was the one my late mother used to say all the time: "It's six of one, half a dozen of the other." THEY'RE BOTH SIX!!!!! __________________ DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in my posts are mine, and do not necessarily reflect those of my wife.

04-25-2007, 05:06 PM	#4
MisticalMisty Executive Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 8,610	I've never heard high as a cooterbug...I have heard drunker than Cooter Brown though..LOL

04-25-2007, 07:39 PM	#9
BLUEeyedBanshee Ministry of Truth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,307	And how about that darned "You can't have your cake and eat it too." What good is cake that remains not eaten? Seriously? It'll get stale then moldy and be wasted. However these days it'd have to be gluten free cake. __________________ Don't bail; the best pieces of gold are at the bottom of the barrel of crap. - Randy Pausch

04-25-2007, 08:34 PM	#10
Fuzzy BoilemMashmStickeminaStew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Welcome to City 17 Posts: 8,972	What about.... Oh for Pete's sake! Oh for the Love of Pete. Damn Straight! My Bad. __________________ United We Stand, Divided We Fall. 99% of the content on the Internet is True. - Abraham Lincoln

04-26-2007, 08:07 AM	#14
Ruby Ripples Master Blaster Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Alba Posts: 3,980	Three Sheets to the Wind/Living the life of Riley This cliché originated from 18th-19th century English Naval language. The original saying was, ‘three sheets in the wind’ and referred to the unpredictable performance of a ship that had lost control of all of its three sails. The word sheet is the nautical word for the ropes that were used to adjust the position of the sails in relation to the wind. When the sheets were broken or the sailors lost control of them, they were said to be ‘in the wind’. If the sheets on all three masts were ‘in the wind’, the sailors lost all ability to steer the ship. Meaning of Cliché:The phrase “three sheets to the wind” was one that sailors also began to use when referring to someone who was drunk or highly intoxicated. This was because a person’s wobbling and stumbling while drunk was likened to the ship’s lack of control when the sheets on all three masts were unusable. (taken from - http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~jrs59/Cliche.html ) The Life of RileyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Living the life of Riley" suggests an ideal life of prosperity and contentment, possibly living on someone else's money, time or work. Rather than a negative freeloading or golddigging aspect, it instead implies that someone is kept or advantaged. The expression was popular in the 1880s, a time when James Whitcomb Riley's poems depicted the comforts of a prosperous home life [1], but it could have an Irish origin: After the Riley clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called “O'Reillys” and “Reilly's,” became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was “living on his Reillys.” Last edited by Ruby Ripples : 04-26-2007 at 08:14 AM.

04-26-2007, 06:29 PM	#19
BLUEeyedBanshee Ministry of Truth Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,307	Heheheheheh hahahahaha....I didn't even think to take proverbial out...but here's what the urban dictionary had to say about it. Too drunk to walk straight. Reference to the natural wobbling gait of a newt. I love you Ruby, My wonderful Hamster sis! __________________ Don't bail; the best pieces of gold are at the bottom of the barrel of crap. - Randy Pausch

04-26-2007, 06:31 PM	#21
Waxwing Reckless Hero Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PDX Posts: 4,708	This is my new favorite thread. of all time. I know I have a million but I can't think of them now. __________________ "Twice shy and dog tired because you've been bitten/ Everything you say now sounds like it was ghost-written"

04-26-2007, 07:33 PM	#22
PhillyFA Cunning Linguist/Drum Bum Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Philly Posts: 590	Case quarter Does anyone know why a 25 cent piece is called a "case quarter"? When I worked in a gas station, people would come in for a quarter for the air machine, & always ask for a case quarter. I always asked everyone who asked why it was called that, & no one had an answer. __________________ Somebody buy me a pint, for fucks sake. I need a painkiller. Stay Bruised, Darlings.

04-26-2007, 08:10 PM	#24
Waxwing Reckless Hero Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PDX Posts: 4,708	It means a quarter rather than any other change denominations which add up to .25 __________________ "Twice shy and dog tired because you've been bitten/ Everything you say now sounds like it was ghost-written"

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