American Phrases - Page 5

wolf · 11-14-2006, 12:49 AM

A few in relatively standard American usage have been, uh, altered by my exposure to another dwellar ...

"Useless as tits on a left-handed monkey" and "Come Hell, high water, Hitler, or the Second Coming of Christ" are two of the most memorable.

"Sucks moose cock" is one of my own.

I've been trying very hard to come up with some more of these, but I think because they are in such common usage, that I don't even consider that they are typically American phrases.

DucksNuts · 11-14-2006, 03:15 AM

The boys at work looked at me funny when i said "jeezly fuck" the other day - thanks 'spode.

I was impressed when I read it, and it must of stuck on some level.

Shawnee123 · 11-14-2006, 10:44 AM

Dull person=personality of roadkill

Taking a dump (which may be an Americanism itself)= Dropping the kids off at the pool

Cheese and rice=Jeezus Christ

11-14-2006, 11:21 AM

Anything Foghorn Leghorn ever said.
The real McCoy was about the inventor of the first decent combustion engine... a free black man.
"is it a good-un?"... "it's a' real McCoy".

Pie · 11-14-2006, 12:10 PM

My father-in-law has some good ones:
"Finer than frog fur"
"Back when Hector was a pup"
"Older'n'dirt"
"I've got underwear that's older than you!"

Shawnee123 · 11-14-2006, 12:24 PM

My grandma says "finer than frog hair."

Also "colder than a popcorn fart."

Flint · 11-14-2006, 12:36 PM

What about not knowing the difference between "your ass and a hole in the ground"?

xoxoxoBruce · 11-14-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Taking a dump (which may be an Americanism itself)= Dropping the kids off at the pool

That's the first time I ever heard that explanation, must be an Ohio thing. Here it means taking a crap.

Shawnee123 · 11-14-2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

That's the first time I ever heard that explanation, must be an Ohio thing. Here it means taking a crap.

Are you being silly? You do know I meant:

Taking a crap="dropping the kids off at the pool."

I couldn't figure out how to say it without using a various number of other Americanisms!

mrnoodle · 11-14-2006, 01:06 PM

Some of these are southern, some aren't. I don't know which are which anymore. Levels of humor also vary....

"She looks like a bag of cats headed for the river"

"If he was playing for syrup, he wouldn't get a sop"

"He smelled so bad he'd knock a buzzard off a gut wagon"

Bodacious (I've only ever heard it used in reference to food, but it has other connotations apparently).

"You look like the frazzled end of hard times"

"You look like the morning after the night before" (for hangovers)

"He's all hat, no cattle"

"He doesn't have the sense God gave a billy goat."

"You make a better door than a window" (you're blocking my view)

"What, do I look stupid?" (or "What do I look, stupid?" -- never knew how to phrase it right) -- this always sounds like it should be said with a Brooklyn accent, to me.

"Get off your high horse"

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"

"You writing a book? Leave that chapter out" -- when asked a prying question.

"If you had dynamite for brains, you wouldn't have enough to blow your nose"

Flint · 11-14-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrnoodle

"He's all hat, no cattle"

Great one. Nobody likes a fake-ass cowboy.

Shawnee123 · 11-14-2006, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flint

Great one. Nobody likes a fake-ass cowboy.

It's been used much for Bush. I thought Ann Richards had used it, but I couldn't find reference. However, I liked this one:

"Poor George. He can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth."

Sundae · 11-14-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

My uncle reports from his time working in the UK for Procter and Gamble that "all set" in the sense of "we have enough" was a phrase that Englishmen didn't understand; telling a waitress inquiring if there was anything else she might get them that "no thanks, we're all set" left her nonplused.

Either she had trouble with his accent or she was just a bim in general - it's not a common phrase over here, but it's not unheard of. My Uncle certainly used to use it when we had buffet style meals, "Right, I think I'm all set" when he'd filled his plate.

Shawnee123 · 11-14-2006, 01:19 PM

A euphemism for...uh, you know!

As in "Wanna play hide the sausage?"

Sundae · 11-14-2006, 01:22 PM

I can guess which thread you've come from without even stalking you! (but I'm off to check anyway)

11-14-2006, 12:49 AM	#61
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	A few in relatively standard American usage have been, uh, altered by my exposure to another dwellar ... "Useless as tits on a left-handed monkey" and "Come Hell, high water, Hitler, or the Second Coming of Christ" are two of the most memorable. "Sucks moose cock" is one of my own. I've been trying very hard to come up with some more of these, but I think because they are in such common usage, that I don't even consider that they are typically American phrases. __________________ 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

11-14-2006, 10:44 AM	#63
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Dull person=personality of roadkill Taking a dump (which may be an Americanism itself)= Dropping the kids off at the pool Cheese and rice=Jeezus Christ __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-14-2006, 12:10 PM	#65
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	My father-in-law has some good ones: "Finer than frog fur" "Back when Hector was a pup" "Older'n'dirt" "I've got underwear that's older than you!" __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

11-14-2006, 12:24 PM	#66
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	My grandma says "finer than frog hair." Also "colder than a popcorn fart." __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-14-2006, 12:36 PM	#67
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	What about not knowing the difference between "your ass and a hole in the ground"? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

11-14-2006, 03:15 AM	#62
DucksNuts Bitchy Little Brat Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 5,067	The boys at work looked at me funny when i said "jeezly fuck" the other day - thanks 'spode. I was impressed when I read it, and it must of stuck on some level.

11-14-2006, 11:21 AM	#64
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Anything Foghorn Leghorn ever said. The real McCoy was about the inventor of the first decent combustion engine... a free black man. "is it a good-un?"... "it's a' real McCoy".

11-14-2006, 01:06 PM	#70
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Some of these are southern, some aren't. I don't know which are which anymore. Levels of humor also vary.... "She looks like a bag of cats headed for the river" "If he was playing for syrup, he wouldn't get a sop" "He smelled so bad he'd knock a buzzard off a gut wagon" Bodacious (I've only ever heard it used in reference to food, but it has other connotations apparently). "You look like the frazzled end of hard times" "You look like the morning after the night before" (for hangovers) "He's all hat, no cattle" "He doesn't have the sense God gave a billy goat." "You make a better door than a window" (you're blocking my view) "What, do I look stupid?" (or "What do I look, stupid?" -- never knew how to phrase it right) -- this always sounds like it should be said with a Brooklyn accent, to me. "Get off your high horse" "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me" "You writing a book? Leave that chapter out" -- when asked a prying question. "If you had dynamite for brains, you wouldn't have enough to blow your nose" __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

11-14-2006, 01:19 PM	#74
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Hide the Sausage A euphemism for...uh, you know! As in "Wanna play hide the sausage?" __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

11-14-2006, 01:22 PM	#75
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I can guess which thread you've come from without even stalking you! (but I'm off to check anyway) __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)