Author Topic: What am I saying? # 2 RESPONSE POSTED (Read 13866 times)

Kerry · « **on:** November 22, 2007, 07:11:20 am »

Australian speech is peppered with many colourful, zany expressions.

One such expression is, "I'm flat out like a lizard drinking."

Imagine you are making a visit to Australia and a local sidles up to you and says, "I'm flat out like a lizard drinking." Would you know what s/he was talking about?

Choose from the options provided above and tell us why you chose it.

If you are Australian, you are very welcome to (anonymously) vote above, but please do not identify yourself as Australian by posting a message, 'cause that'll just give the answer away.

I'll post the correct response in a couple of days! (I hope this one isn't too easy!) $:-\$

Have fun everyone!

Kelda · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2007, 07:34:59 am »

I'm exhausted?

Kerry · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2007, 08:10:33 am »

Quote from: Kelda on November 22, 2007, 07:34:59 am

I'm exhausted?

Haha, could be, Kelda, could very well be!

David In Indy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2007, 04:42:18 pm »

It sounds like it means you're drunk. Lizards don't drink; well they don't drink alcohol. Not unless someone serves him an alcoholic drink. A human person must do this. Serve the drink, that is. And it would be animal cruelty to get your pet lizard drunk. Then you might get arrested, or lose possession of your lizard. Or he might run away the next day after he recooperated from his awful hangover.

Soooo.... they don't drink. They don't drink alcohol.

Now, "flat out" sounds as if the lizard might have been run over by a car! Or a truck. And if he's drunk this might happen. But I think "flat out" in this verbage means he is on his back in a chair or on a couch; too drunk to walk. Just imagine a drunk Geico gecko and you'll understand this image I have in my mind right now. But hopefully he will just pass out on the floor and not get run over by a car. Or a truck. Because if this happened, who would appear in all those future Geico commercials? A turtle? That wouldn't work, would it? Comcast already uses a turtle in their commercials. The Slowskys. Ya'll seen that one?

I think it means "drunk", Kerry!

Kerry · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2007, 08:08:01 am »

Quote from: David on November 23, 2007, 04:42:18 pm

Then you might get arrested, or lose possession of your lizard. Or he might run away the next day after he recooperated from his awful hangover.

Haha, love it, David! Nothing worse than losing possession of your lizard . . . . which leads me to another funny Australian expression! (on second thought, maybe not!)

Kerry · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2007, 08:11:37 am »

Hi David, as moderator of the Polling Place, could you kindly tell me if I've set-up this poll correctly? I want everyone to be able to see the responses, whether they've responded themselves or not. Have I done it correctly?

Shasta542 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2007, 10:39:26 am »

I said "BUSY" because to me "flat out" means going fast--like "He finished that in no time flat". Or "That car was flat out flying down the gravel road". I don't know about the lizard part.

David In Indy · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2007, 01:44:01 pm »

Quote from: Kerry on November 24, 2007, 08:11:37 am

Hi David, as moderator of the Polling Place, could you kindly tell me if I've set-up this poll correctly? I want everyone to be able to see the responses, whether they've responded themselves or not. Have I done it correctly?

Yup! Everything looks just fine, Kerry!

ifyoucantfixit · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2007, 02:09:35 pm »

" Wow I could have had a V8 " no ??

I am drinking seriously tonight?

Does it really mean the same as "belly up to the bar?"

Kerry · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2007, 05:35:40 pm »

Quote from: Shasta542 on November 24, 2007, 10:39:26 am

I said "BUSY" because to me "flat out" means going fast--like "He finished that in no time flat". Or "That car was flat out flying down the gravel road". I don't know about the lizard part.

Get a mental picture of a lizard drinking, Shasta. That'll give you a clue.

Either that or I'm just trying to deliberately mislead you!

Kerry · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2007, 05:36:45 pm »

Quote from: David on November 24, 2007, 01:44:01 pm

Yup! Everything looks just fine, Kerry!

Thank you kindly for checking that for me, David.

Kerry · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2007, 05:39:22 pm »

Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on November 24, 2007, 02:09:35 pm

" Wow I could have had a V8 " no ??

I am drinking seriously tonight?

Mmmmmm, I looove V8 - with vodka!!!

TXdoug · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2007, 06:34:47 pm »

FUN !!!!!

thanks, Kerry

Kerry · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2007, 01:23:58 am »

Quote from: TXdoug on November 24, 2007, 06:34:47 pm

FUN !!!!!
thanks, Kerry

Hi Doug! Good to see you here!

injest · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:30:57 am »

I think it means his tire is flat....see he is giving a hint with the "Lizard" reference...lizard skin looks like leather..and leather is kinda similar to rubber and tires are made out of rubber....and if you go out after being at the bar all night and have a flat then you have to wait for the people to come change it so you might as well have another drink while you wait. Cause if you have been at the bar all night you are too drunk to change your OWN tire...besides you might ruin your 'going out to the bar' outfit if you try.

Kerry · « **Reply #15 on:** November 25, 2007, 06:10:12 pm »

Quote from: injest on November 25, 2007, 09:30:57 am

I think it means his tire is flat....see he is giving a hint with the "Lizard" reference...lizard skin looks like leather..and leather is kinda similar to rubber and tires are made out of rubber....and if you go out after being at the bar all night and have a flat then you have to wait for the people to come change it so you might as well have another drink while you wait. Cause if you have been at the bar all night you are too drunk to change your OWN tire...besides you might ruin your 'going out to the bar' outfit if you try.

Haha, love it, Jess! I'm not sure (Kerry scratches his head $:-\$ ), but I think you just created your very own extra option there!

I like it so much, I've added it to the options list!!!

Kerry · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:13:11 pm »

Quote from: garycottle on November 25, 2007, 06:22:15 pm

I said it means exhausted, 'cause to me a picture of a lizard all flattened out taking a drink looks really put upon. Like he's got the weight of the world on his little shoulders. (Do lizard's have shoulders?)

Gary

I do believe lizards do indeed have lizardy little shoulders, Gary!

injest · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:23:32 pm »

Quote from: Kerry on November 25, 2007, 06:10:12 pm

Haha, love it, Jess! I'm not sure (Kerry scratches his head $:-\$ ), but I think you just created your very own extra option there! I like it so much, I've added it to the options list!!!

well I am gonna have to change my answer then...

wait a minute....

David In Indy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:25:04 pm »

What the hell are you talking about Jess?

injest · « **Reply #19 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:29:23 pm »

Quote from: David on November 25, 2007, 09:25:04 pm

What the hell are you talking about Jess?

well that can't be the right answer....unless he is cheating!!

David In Indy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:32:52 pm »

Quote from: injest on November 25, 2007, 09:29:23 pm

well that can't be the right answer....unless he is cheating!!

Oh okay. I get it now.

$:-\$

ifyoucantfixit · « **Reply #21 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:35:36 pm »

"well I am gonna have to change my answer then..."

Jess has anyone ever told you that you are crazy....Oh never mind...of course they have....

That was a whole story in your reply......loved it.......

injest · « **Reply #22 on:** November 25, 2007, 09:56:49 pm »

Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on November 25, 2007, 09:35:36 pm

"well I am gonna have to change my answer then..."

Jess has anyone ever told you that you are crazy....Oh never mind...of course they have....
That was a whole story in your reply......loved it.......

YOU ain't right either!!

(I am having to say that to EVERYONE today....what the heck is going on?? What DID I say in chat last night?? I was TIRED PEOPLE!! I didn't know what I was talking about! and it was all Jack's fault anyway...whatever I said....

Jack WAS in chat wasn't he?? I seem to remember him being there...)

Kerry · « **Reply #23 on:** November 26, 2007, 12:35:16 am »

Quote from: injest on November 25, 2007, 09:56:49 pm

YOU ain't right either!!

(I am having to say that to EVERYONE today....what the heck is going on?? What DID I say in chat last night?? I was TIRED PEOPLE!! I didn't know what I was talking about! and it was all Jack's fault anyway...whatever I said....

Jack WAS in chat wasn't he?? I seem to remember him being there...)

Gosh, I'm really sorry I missed out on chatting with Jack! I would have very much enjoyed that. Was Ennis there too, last night?

injest · « **Reply #24 on:** November 26, 2007, 01:16:07 am »

I seem to recall something ......

something about a man in Wyoming....

Kerry · « **Reply #25 on:** November 26, 2007, 03:18:46 am »

Quote from: injest on November 26, 2007, 01:16:07 am

I seem to recall something ......

something about a man in Wyoming....

Sometimes, when it's late, and I've had a rough day at the coalface, I doze off at the keyboard. Go into such a sound sleep. Dreaming and all. Sitting bolt upright. Wake up an hour later and fall into bed. $:-\$

David In Indy · « **Reply #26 on:** November 26, 2007, 03:52:02 am »

Quote from: Kerry on November 26, 2007, 03:18:46 am

Sometimes, when it's late, and I've had a rough day at the coalface, I doze off at the keyboard. Go into such a sound sleep. Dreaming and all. Sitting bolt upright. Wake up an hour later and fall into bed. $:-\$

Kerry! That's bad for you! Cory falls asleep all the time while he's sitting upright, and he wakes up with a terrible neck ache! If you start to feel sleepy, you should go to bed sweetie!! You should get a good night sleep and then log onto BetterMost after you get up!! Okay??

{{{KERRY}}}

Kerry · « **Reply #27 on:** November 26, 2007, 08:15:52 am »

Quote from: David on November 26, 2007, 03:52:02 am

Kerry! That's bad for you! Cory falls asleep all the time while he's sitting upright, and he wakes up with a terrible neck ache! If you start to feel sleepy, you should go to bed sweetie!! You should get a good night sleep and then log onto BetterMost after you get up!! Okay??

{{{KERRY}}}

That's very good, sage advice, David. I must try to get into the habit of going to bed earlier. I love my bed and am a very sound sleeper (even when I've already been asleep for a couple of hours, bolt upright, in front of the PC haha!). Maybe I'll make "Retire Earlier" my New Year's resolution for 2008!

Kerry · « **Reply #28 on:** November 27, 2007, 08:39:17 am »

And the answer is . . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

. . . . . .

"I'm very busy."

Before posting the result, I thought I'd better google "drinking lizard," just to make doubly sure of my facts. I was quite surprised to find that some sites translate this saying as meaning, "I'm in a hurry." I suspect these sites may be non-Oz and are being misled by "flat out," which certainly does mean "in a hurry" or "moving quickly." However, in Australia, when the words "flat out" are used in conjunction with any reference to imbibing reptiles, no matter how remote, it only ever means one thing - "I'm very busy." Certainly, that's what it means in my office! For example, imagine I'm up to pussy's bow in overdue paper work and a colleague drops by my desk for a chat. It would be entirely appropriate for me to say, "I'm flat out like a lizard drinking right now, mate. I'll catch ya later!"

Congratulations to everyone who got it right and thank you to everyone for participating.

southendmd · « **Reply #29 on:** November 27, 2007, 01:26:57 pm »

I'm having trouble imagining you up to your pussy's bow in anything, actually.

ifyoucantfixit · « **Reply #30 on:** November 27, 2007, 01:32:54 pm »

Ok i am with Paul on this one...Now you have to explain that phrase...

Kerry · « **Reply #31 on:** November 28, 2007, 03:45:35 am »

Quote from: ifyoucantfixit on November 27, 2007, 01:32:54 pm

Ok i am with Paul on this one...Now you have to explain that phrase...

Haha, do you mean to say you don't have that expression in the US, Janice and Paul?

Put simply, it's interchangeable with "Flat out like a lizard drinking," virtually meaning the same thing. In my previous example, "I'm flat out like a lizard drinking right now, mate. I'll catch ya later," another way of phrasing that would be to say, "I'm up to pussy's bow in paperwork right now, mate. I'll catch you later." Get a mental picture of a cat wearing a big bow under its chin, where a collar would normally be and you get the idea. It's another way of saying "up to my eyes," as in "I'm up to my eyes in work," or "I'm very busy."

It also has another meaning, as in "I've had it right up to pussy's bow with his nonsense. If he continues to annoy me, I shall give him a knuckle sandwich," meaning "If he doesn't quit annoying me, I'll punch his flamin' lights out."

I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead!

Feel free to plagiarize pussy's bow at will!!!

southendmd · « **Reply #32 on:** November 28, 2007, 01:38:31 pm »

Quote from: Kerry on November 28, 2007, 03:45:35 am

Feel free to plagiarize pussy's bow at will!!!

Hmm, that's likely to raise a few eyebrows over here.

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Author Topic: What am I saying? # 2 ***RESPONSE POSTED*** (Read 13866 times)

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Author Topic: What am I saying? # 2 RESPONSE POSTED (Read 13866 times)