Sayings you never understand

[MatticusMania]

One I never quite got was "clear as mud".

Means that what you just said was not clearly put, or otherwise "clear as mud" (not clear at all).

 

[relwof]

Hum derp. Bolliga spoy spoy.
Gnarl. Phloof.

never got that one.

You do realize what will happen when people Google that, right?

 

[stingray2112]

Hum derp. Bolliga spoy spoy.
Gnarl. Phloof.

never got that one.

That's what I do every morning I wake up...Damn cigarettes.

 

[Gopherbassist]

My mom used to say "I'm trying to have a headache" all the time. She would never, and still has not, explained what this means.

 

[relwof]

That's what I do every morning I wake up...Damn cigarettes.

Pollen will do that too. Course ya gotta collect an awful lot before you can roll it...

 

[Bassman316]

One I hear around these parts a lot goes like this:

"So, how you doin', (insert name)?"
"Well, if I were any better, I'd be twins."



NEVER understood that.

 

[VroomVroom]

"Well, if I were any better, I'd be twins."

Absolutely love it. Right up there with, "Don't take too many of them to make a dozen."

 

[Skitch it!]

One I hear around these parts a lot goes like this:

"So, how you doin', (insert name)?"
"Well, if I were any better, I'd be twins."



NEVER understood that.

I'm having it so good there's enough for 2 of me maybe?

 

[MatticusMania]

"Don't take too many of them to make a dozen."

Nope, only eleven more...

 

[Skitch it!]

Absolutely love it. Right up there with, "Don't take too many of them to make a dozen."

I'd put this down to a jury number from back in the day perhaps, judgement? I'z guessing though, depends which context it's used in.

 

[VroomVroom]

FWIW, it actually relates to seeing someone (or something) that is larger than expected.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Mad as a hatter: I heard it was from the millinery trade (hat making) where Mercury was used to cure the felt in hats. Eventually the hatters would go crazy from the fumes.

Whole nine yards: A few of these....27' of .50 calibre rounds on a Spitfire...A full length on a mast of a sailing ship (nine yards give you a lot of sail, and therefore speed)....and the length of tartan used to make a proper pleated kilt. I like the latter, having a kilt myself.

 

[Skitch it!]

FWIW, it actually relates to seeing someone (or something) that is larger than expected.

Ah, I see

Kind of a similar relation of 'largeness', "Someone stop John raiding the beer chiller please, he's drinking them by the dozen"

 

[funkydanbass]

How long is a piece pf string?
Twice as long as half of it.

 

[nocontrols]

Really? Search it. I just did and it's everywhere...This is what I found...

"The expression is often said to derive from the supposed nepotism of the British Prime Minister Lord (Robert) Salisbury, who appointed a favourite nephew, Arthur Balfour, to several political posts in the 1880s. Balfour had considerable talents and went on to become Prime Minister himself, but his early political appointments were considered inappropriate as he showed no interest in public work and at the time preoccupied himself with philosophy and an active social life. It is unlikely that Arthur Balfour would ever have become a celebrated politician without the patronage of his influential uncle. Piers Brendon, in Eminent Edwardians, 1979, writes:

"... in 1887, Balfour was unexpectedly promoted to the vital front line post of Chief Secretary for Ireland by his uncle Robert, Lord Salisbury."

The link here between an uncle Bob who was Prime Minister and a passport to an easy life is easy to make. In fact, that very neatness has the odour of a folk-etymology."

*Shrug* I don't care how it originated since that's in dispute, anyway. I'm talking about how it's used and I got it from the horse's mouth, in that I have friends in England and commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia. I had a girlfriend originally from Aus who confirms my explanation so that's enough for me.

Bob's your uncle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read the very first bit at the top.

 

[Wyrm74]

*Shrug* I don't care how it originated since that's in dispute, anyway. I'm talking about how it's used and I got it from the horse's mouth, in that I have friends in England and commonwealth countries like Canada and Australia. I had a girlfriend originally from Aus who confirms my explanation so that's enough for me.

Bob's your uncle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read the very first bit at the top.

You stick with yours, I'll stick with mine. My wife told me the story that I remembered, and she's a Brit, then google confirmed it...so that's enough for me!

 

[Batmensch]

Two cliches I'dlike to know the origin of:
At the drop of a hat.
and
Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

 

[MatticusMania]

Two [DEL]cliches[/DEL] idioms I'd like to know the origin of:
At the drop of a hat.
and
Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

fixed.

Answers: at the drop of a hat - Wiktionary

Etymology: From the customary starting of competitions by making a sweeping downward motion with a cap.

wait for the other shoe to drop - Wiktionary

Etymology: Apparently from early 20th century usage evoking a person in bed awoken by the loud sound of a neighbor dropping a shoe onto the floor and thereafter waiting for the second shoe of the pair to be dropped

 

[basstotheface]

Pretty sure mad as a hatter originated from clock makers, and not hatters. But it is applicable to both.

 

[MatticusMania]

Pretty sure mad as a hatter originated from clock makers, and not hatters. But it is applicable to both.

Answers.com - What is the origin of the phrase 'as mad as a hatter''