Author Topic: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense  (Read 19732 times)

Offline David In Indy

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Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« on: April 15, 2010, 04:15:25 pm »
You've heard them before. We know what they mean when we hear them, but they really don't make any sense. Here's a few -


"You can't have your cake and eat it too"

meaning - you can't have it both ways.

If we're not supposed to eat it, what do they suggest we do with it?


"There's more than one way to skin a cat"

meaning - there's more than one way to achieve a goal.

Why would anyone want to skin a cat?


"I didn't just fall off the turnip wagon"

meaning - you're not fooling me/I don't believe you

So what about the people who DID fall off a turnip wagon?


"It's the cat's pajamas"

meaning - it's wonderful. Sometimes the phrase will be directed towards a person - "He/She is the cat's pajamas" or "She thinks he's the cat's pajamas".

Cats wear pajamas?
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Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2010, 09:11:11 am »
"He's from Texas."  :D
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline Monika

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2010, 11:16:13 pm »
"He's from Texas."  :D

Meaning - you rather have sex with than to drink coffee with this person"'


Why not do both?

Offline Penthesilea

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2010, 01:59:12 am »
Since when did people fall out of the sky when it rains?

Well, since cats and dogs can fall out of the sky when it pours - why not people? ;D

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2010, 02:16:17 am »
Well, since cats and dogs can fall out of the sky when it pours - why not people? ;D


:laugh: :laugh:

Yeah, you are thinking about It is raining cats and dogs

I was thinking about posting that one! That's a good one Chrissi!

Which makes me think of -

"When it rains it pours"

meaning - many similar or associated events tend to happen at (or close to) the same time. It's normally used when many things seem to begin going wrong all at once.

So, suddenly rain is a BAD thing?
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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2010, 02:18:18 am »
I've not heard that one before, David.

In Australia we say:

"I didn't come down in the last shower."

Meaning you're not fooling me  or do I look stupid or somethin'?

Since when did people fall out of the sky when it rains?





Awww, that's a cute one Kerry! I have never heard it before! You Australians have all sorts of cute phrases. Maybe you can think of some more and post them in here. :)

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2010, 12:28:26 am »
 :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

Thanks Kerry! Those are really good, and I am not familiar with many of them. Like I said, the Australians are brilliant when coming up with these phrases. I often here them when I watch Australian movies. I particularly like these -

Scarce as rocking-horse shit.

Uglier than a hat-full of nuns’ cu*ts. (We have a similar one - "Ugly enough to stop a clock" but I like yours better!)

As useful as - lips on a chicken / tits on a bull. (Around here we say "As useful as tits on a boar")

I think this one is my favorite though - "He has a head on him like the south end of a north-bound camel."

:laugh: :laugh:

Thanks Kerry! :-*

All of them are very good!





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Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2010, 12:38:44 am »
You Aussies may not talk much...but you get your point across!
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2010, 12:46:28 am »
Colder than a witch's tit

meaning - it's very very cold.


"Fling enough dirt and some of it will stick"

meaning - if you ask for trouble you'll end up getting it.


"Don't sell the bear's skin before you've caught the bear".

or

"Don't count your chickens before they've hatched"

or

"Don't put the cart before the horse."

meaning - Don't be too quick to assume.


"The squeaky wheel gets the grease"

meaning - those who complain the loudest will get noticed first.

In contrast to that-

"You will attract more bees to honey than to vinegar".

meaning - Being pleasant will yeild better results.


"A guest and a fish are after three days poison."

meaning - Don't wear out your welcome.


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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2010, 03:54:01 am »
Re: the bear- my Mom used to say that one. :)
________________________


I forgot about this one -

Tighter than a fish’s arsehole.


Around here we say -

"Pucker up tighter than a snare drum"

Example - "Don't expect him to lend you any money because if you do his ass will pucker up tighter than a snare drum."


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Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2010, 06:20:12 pm »
We do have another saying about a bear, though. We say,

Does a bear shit in the woods?
meaning,
It's obvious.

And we also have
Is the Pope catholic?
meaning,
It's obvious.

Then there's
Is the bear catholic? and, Does the Pope shit in the woods?
 :laugh:
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2010, 03:01:39 pm »
And instead of "A guest and a fish are after three day poison," we Aussies say (blunt as usual) "Fish and house guests go off after three days."  (I believe the Romans originally gave us that one)

Passed on by Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard's Almanac: "After three days, fish and house guests begin to stink."
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2010, 03:38:08 pm »
Off like a bride’s nightie.
Meaning - Move very quickly
Example – “I’m off like a bride’s nightie.” (I’m leaving immediately)

 :laugh:

I've heard a similar expression here in the US. 

It's become customary here when the senior prom happens, the young couples will go and have sex to end the night's festivities.

Hence the phrase:

"I'm off, like a pair of panties on prom night!"

 :laugh:

Another similar one (that I've used).....lol   

Another way to same "I'm off" is "I'm out" (I'm leaving) and here in NYC we have The Village, which is a gay mecca, and the most well known street is Christopher Street.

Hence the phrase:

"I'm out, like a queer on Christopher St."


Tell him when l come up to him and ask to play the record, l'm gonna say: ''Voulez-vous jouer ce disque?''
'Voulez-vous, will you kiss my dick?'
Will you play my record? One-track mind!

Offline Lynne

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2010, 06:58:26 pm »
"Like it or lump it."

Lump how? What?
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline BayCityJohn

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2010, 08:37:37 pm »
"Like it or lump it."

Lump how? What?

'First of all, I'm a-going to call you Boffin, for short,' said Wegg.

'If you don't like it, it's open to you to lump it.'
 - Charles Dickens

http://dickens.thefreelibrary.com/Our-Mutual-Friend/4-3


LUMP, v. [Of symbolic sound; cf. DUMP, GLUMP, GRUMP, HUMP, MUMP.]
1. intr. To look sulky or disagreeable . . .
[Quotation:] 1577 "They stand lumping and lowring . . . for that they imagine that their evill lucke proceedeth of him."
2. trans. In antithesis with "like": To be displeased at (something that must be endured), colloq.
[Quotations:] 1833 "Let 'em lump it if they don't like it." . . . 1878 "I'll buy clothes as I see fit, and if anybody don't like it, why they may lump it, that's all."

Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #15 on: May 03, 2010, 12:41:27 am »
I wonder if "shooting blanks" means something of the same in the U.S.?
"chewing gum and duct tape"

Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #16 on: May 03, 2010, 02:33:57 am »
The sun doesn't shine on the same dog's ass every day.

Meaning: Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Example:

Chris: "I didn't get those jobs I applied for."

Jeff: "Well, the sun doesn't shine on the same dog's ass every day. Better luck next time!"


Personally, I would think the sun would shine on ANY dog's ass if he was outside and in the sunlight. ;)

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2010, 02:38:19 am »
I should point out that while the above phrase has always been fairly well known here in the Midwest, it was made popular in the movie "Hoosiers".

"The sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day. But mister, you haven't seen a ray of light since you got here!"

Meaning - He has been having nothing but VERY bad luck since arriving in town.
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Offline David In Indy

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Re: Phrases That Make Little or No Sense
« Reply #18 on: May 03, 2010, 02:40:48 am »
I wonder if "shooting blanks" means something of the same in the U.S.?

Well Lee, I don't know about other places, but I sure do know what it means here in the U.S.! :laugh:
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