Wierd sayings - Page 7

Sundae · 10-31-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclefrance

I think I got muddled between 'brown-bagging' and a 'double-bagger' which is a rather unkind way to describe an unattractive lady - dangerous territory I'm entering here so I'll stop immediately (no double-entendre meant, but can see how that thought might arise....)

It describes an unattractive person round here....
As well as the obvious covering the head with the bags, I've heard it used to describe a man who is considered a bit of a tart - you make him double bag it for your own sexual safety...

Cyclefrance · 10-31-2005, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

It describes an unattractive person round here....
As well as the obvious covering the head with the bags, I've heard it used to describe a man who is considered a bit of a tart - you make him double bag it for your own sexual safety...

Quite right too! (seeking safe harbour....)

Happy Monkey · 10-31-2005, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Stores don't use those brown bags anymore, you get plastic.

Actually, if you buy stuff in glass bottles, some stores will put the glass bottles in lunch-size paper bags to protect them from breaking.

wolf · 10-31-2005, 10:19 AM

Around here jars of pickles and peanut butter just have to take their chances. Glassware, pottery, and stuff like that gets wrapped in two of the plastic bags.

Cyclefrance · 10-31-2005, 10:42 AM

Imperial weights and measures - know some of them but not all:

pound - something to do with the size of stones used to pound the wheatears to remove the grain prior to milling, I think

stone - the largest stone in the process - 14 pounders were roughly the equivalent in weight of the larger stone

Funny how so many of these have something to do with agriculture, like...

yard - something to do with the length of the step ('foot' is the average foot size and a step or yard is three of those) - not sure more than that - there's a yardstick, being a standard measure of the step, but not sure why it's called that - then there are 22 yards (steps) to a chain...

chain - the length of the chain from the plough to the horse's 'collar' or yoke, and there are 10 chains to a furlong (links to the yard when one imagines the ploughman walking behind...)

furlong - literally a 'furrow long' - the length of the furrow in a ploughed field, obviously 220 yards, and then there are 8 furlongs to a mile (1760 yards)...

All quite logical in a rural sort of way....

Clodfobble · 10-31-2005, 06:09 PM

I've heard that what is commonly known as a "piggy-back" ride among people my age was originally a "pick-a-back" ride, before lazy tongues got ahold of it.

Trilby · 10-31-2005, 06:40 PM

My favorite fuck saying is 'Fuck you, you fucking fuck!'--has a nice ring to it.

bargalunan · 11-01-2005, 07:21 AM

In France we say "manier la carotte et le baton" (use the carrot and the stick) and that means using both a promised reward (carrot) and a threat (stick) to make the donkey walk.

Sometimes French and English share the same expressions !

French popular wisdom : fog in November, Christmas in December !

Cyclefrance · 11-01-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bargalunan

Sometimes French and English share the same expressions !

You know I had a feeling you might say that, but then I thought 'same sayings, no, not really - it was just a touch of deja vu.'

That aside Mr B - tell us some other French sayings that have an unusual background to them...(preferably with translation into English!)

Tonchi · 11-01-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bargalunan

French popular wisdom : fog in November, Christmas in December !

We say: Fog in November, you're in Fresno

barefoot serpent · 11-01-2005, 09:08 AM

my favorite French expression: Le petit mort -- the little death.

bargalunan · 11-01-2005, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefoot serpent

my favorite French expression: Le petit mort -- the little death.

Yes, more exactly, it's "La petite mort"

bargalunan · 11-01-2005, 09:22 AM

“un croque-mort” (an undertaker) :
“croque ” means “to bite”, “mort ” means “dead”
In the past people used to check if the body was dead, in biting one of his toes.

“qui dort dine” : “who is sleeping, is eating”
Everybody thinks it means that when we sleep we don’t feel hungry and don’t need to eat.
In fact, in the past it was an advert for hostels :
Customers were paying for the bed and the diner was free.

“L’habit ne fait pas le moine” : “the habit doesn’t make the monk”
means : don’t judge people according to their appearance.

“Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse” :
“Pierre qui roule ” : “A rolling stone ”
“ n’amasse pas mousse ” : “isn’t covered with moss ”
(no link with Mick Jagger and Kate Moss)
means we never become rich if we too often change of country, job….

“Quand on veut noyer son chien, on dit qu’il a la rage”
“When we want to drown one’s dog, we say he’s got the rage”
means : when we want Saddam’s oil, we say he’s got mass murder weapons.

“Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête” :
“Who sows the wind harvests the storm”
means : somebody who causes disorder shouldn’t be surprised to get a disaster

“un(e) de perdu(e), dix de retrouvé(e) ” :
“one lost, ten back ”
often said when your boy(girl)friend goes away :
you’ll soon find several better occasions.

“une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps ” :
“a swallow/martin doesn’t make springtime ”
means : you can’t judge on only one example

“c’est l’hôpital qui se moque de la charité ” :
“it’s the hospital which laughs at the charity”
when we laugh at somebody else who shares the same failings.

“avoir des cornes ” : “to have horns ” :
to be cuckold

“ça ne casse pas 3 pattes à un canard ” :
“that doesn’t break 3 legs at a duck” :
There’s nothing extraordinary

“passer du coq à l’âne ” :
“change from rooster to donkey”
means : changing the subject of the conversation

The Alternative French Dictionary
(good examples but be careful in using it with French people, sometimes it’s very rude)

glatt · 11-01-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bargalunan

“that doesn’t break 3 legs at a duck”

Sounds like something some of our recent newbies might say.

limey · 11-01-2005, 04:39 PM

"“Quand on veut noyer son chien, on dit qu’il a la rage”
“When we want to drown one’s dog, we say he’s got the rage”
means : when we want Saddam’s oil, we say he’s got mass murder weapons."

10-31-2005, 10:19 AM	#4
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Around here jars of pickles and peanut butter just have to take their chances. Glassware, pottery, and stuff like that gets wrapped in two of the plastic bags. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

10-31-2005, 10:42 AM	#5
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Imperial weights and measures - know some of them but not all: pound - something to do with the size of stones used to pound the wheatears to remove the grain prior to milling, I think stone - the largest stone in the process - 14 pounders were roughly the equivalent in weight of the larger stone Funny how so many of these have something to do with agriculture, like... yard - something to do with the length of the step ('foot' is the average foot size and a step or yard is three of those) - not sure more than that - there's a yardstick, being a standard measure of the step, but not sure why it's called that - then there are 22 yards (steps) to a chain... chain - the length of the chain from the plough to the horse's 'collar' or yoke, and there are 10 chains to a furlong (links to the yard when one imagines the ploughman walking behind...) furlong - literally a 'furrow long' - the length of the furrow in a ploughed field, obviously 220 yards, and then there are 8 furlongs to a mile (1760 yards)... All quite logical in a rural sort of way.... __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears Last edited by Cyclefrance; 10-31-2005 at 11:00 AM.

10-31-2005, 06:40 PM	#7
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	My favorite fuck saying is 'Fuck you, you fucking fuck!'--has a nice ring to it. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

11-01-2005, 04:39 PM	#15
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	"“Quand on veut noyer son chien, on dit qu’il a la rage” “When we want to drown one’s dog, we say he’s got the rage” means : when we want Saddam’s oil, we say he’s got mass murder weapons." __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

10-31-2005, 06:09 PM	#6
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I've heard that what is commonly known as a "piggy-back" ride among people my age was originally a "pick-a-back" ride, before lazy tongues got ahold of it.

11-01-2005, 07:21 AM	#8
bargalunan Abecedarian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nantes (France) Posts: 175	In France we say "manier la carotte et le baton" (use the carrot and the stick) and that means using both a promised reward (carrot) and a threat (stick) to make the donkey walk. Sometimes French and English share the same expressions ! French popular wisdom : fog in November, Christmas in December !

11-01-2005, 09:08 AM	#11
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	my favorite French expression: Le petit mort -- the little death.

11-01-2005, 09:22 AM	#13
bargalunan Abecedarian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nantes (France) Posts: 175	“un croque-mort” (an undertaker) : “croque ” means “to bite”, “mort ” means “dead” In the past people used to check if the body was dead, in biting one of his toes. “qui dort dine” : “who is sleeping, is eating” Everybody thinks it means that when we sleep we don’t feel hungry and don’t need to eat. In fact, in the past it was an advert for hostels : Customers were paying for the bed and the diner was free. “L’habit ne fait pas le moine” : “the habit doesn’t make the monk” means : don’t judge people according to their appearance. “Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse” : “Pierre qui roule ” : “A rolling stone ” “ n’amasse pas mousse ” : “isn’t covered with moss ” (no link with Mick Jagger and Kate Moss) means we never become rich if we too often change of country, job…. “Quand on veut noyer son chien, on dit qu’il a la rage” “When we want to drown one’s dog, we say he’s got the rage” means : when we want Saddam’s oil, we say he’s got mass murder weapons. “Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête” : “Who sows the wind harvests the storm” means : somebody who causes disorder shouldn’t be surprised to get a disaster “un(e) de perdu(e), dix de retrouvé(e) ” : “one lost, ten back ” often said when your boy(girl)friend goes away : you’ll soon find several better occasions. “une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps ” : “a swallow/martin doesn’t make springtime ” means : you can’t judge on only one example “c’est l’hôpital qui se moque de la charité ” : “it’s the hospital which laughs at the charity” when we laugh at somebody else who shares the same failings. “avoir des cornes ” : “to have horns ” : to be cuckold “ça ne casse pas 3 pattes à un canard ” : “that doesn’t break 3 legs at a duck” : There’s nothing extraordinary “passer du coq à l’âne ” : “change from rooster to donkey” means : changing the subject of the conversation The Alternative French Dictionary (good examples but be careful in using it with French people, sometimes it’s very rude)

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