take the gas pipe
RADIO DAYS (4): Two different characters refer to suicide as "taking the gas pipe". I was thinking ovens and gas in the kitchen; now I wonder whether it means exhaust pipe on a car.In a third usage,...
View Articlesailor's handpipe
RADIO DAYS (5): The Popeye theme is mentioned as "The Sailor's Handpipe".What exactly is a "sailor's handpipe"? [I have a particular image in mind, but haven't googled up confirmation yet.]
View Articlesmell from
RADIO DAYS (6): "I never liked him [the mortician]. He always smelled from formaldehyde."Is this regional (NY)? Would definitely be "of" to me...tho I can think of a few contexts where one could...
View ArticleNoise and News
OK, this morning's lectionary (assigned biblical text) has the story of Jesus in the house in Capernaum when the four guys lowers this paralytic friend through the roof.Here's the question. line in...
View ArticleFuckin/Freakin A
I've heard this expression all my life, and I know how it's used, but what on earth does the "A" mean? Or is it Canadian or something - fuckin eh?
View Articleput on the long finger
i am wondering whether anyone can enlighten me as to the origin of this phrase? any help appreciated!
View Articleaftermath
While watching Fox, ads for the aftermath of Evan (Joe Millionaire) and Zora's engagement or whatever came on. Whether or not either of them can do math is immaterial for this this discussion, what...
View ArticleThe Coast is Clear
I've often wondered where this phrase originated from. i thought it might have been a phrase used during war time by ships coming to shore or something like that. Anybody know?? Thank you!
View Articlepightle
I was looking up pightle, which means a parcel of land, and came across this site which has some excellent links.www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/Default.htm
View ArticleEulogy vs. Elegy
Everybody nowadays thinks of "eulogy" as a nice speech you give about somebody at their funeral. But the dictionary (Princeton's WordNet) defines it as "a formal expression of praise," while defining...
View ArticleStaying Frosty
Staying frosty means stay alert, be aware and be ready for immediate action. I believe it has a military origin - but I have no reference for this. Can anybody offer the origin of this phrase?...
View ArticleHamburger
Could anyone tell me where or how the word hamburger got its start? Thanks in advance.
View ArticleHero
Can you catch this one Jim, jgorman64 ? I know you have a good knowledge of Greek.On the Take our word for it page you referenced for the Hamburger question they seem to say "the feminine form of the...
View ArticleRejigger
The Washington Post in reference to the dropping of Donahue:MSNBC executives are now faced with the all too familiar task of rejiggering their prime-...Read More
View ArticleDid a number on
This is from the Snopes message board, just as an example of use, but it's a very common idiom.The Victorians did a real number on Norse and Ge...Read More
View Article
