Fun Stuff > CHATTER
Literal Idioms
LTK:
I would guess that it's a saying that's supposed to draw attention to a rude habit, maybe calling someone 'she' instead of by her name? I'm not sure how that's rude, but then I'm not Scottish.
There are a few sayings in Dutch that people say if they don't want to answer seriously. Like, if a kid keeps asking you "Why?" you might respond with "Why are the bananas curved" (which should rhyme) i.e. it implies that you're asking a question to which there is no sensible answer, like answering an obvious question with "Does a bear shit in the woods?"
There's also the thing people say (again, to kids mostly) if they're asked "What?" too many times, which is "If you eat baloney". Probably related to "This is baloney to me", meaning I don't care. Also has a variation I personally love: "This can rust on my arse", meaning IDGAF. A relative neologism; it wasn't used before the 1980s. Another recent saying is "shitting sludge" or "shitting seven colours", our way of saying "shitting bricks".
Tova:
Along similar lines, sometimes I or one of my brothers would try to get parental attention:
Me: "Hey. Hey, Dad. Hey."
Dad: "Hay is for horses."
Like the cat thing, it's just a mild way of pointing out your impoliteness.
JoeCovenant:
--- Quote from: LTK on 06 Sep 2018, 17:54 ---I would guess that it's a saying that's supposed to draw attention to a rude habit, maybe calling someone 'she' instead of by her name? I'm not sure how that's rude, but then I'm not Scottish.
--- End quote ---
Absolutely that's what it is.
But it's more the origin of it that has totally been lost.
Like, of all the things to say to indicate rudeness... "She's the cat's mother...?" (It is only used for females)
--- Quote from: LTK on 06 Sep 2018, 17:54 ---Another recent saying is "shitting sludge" or "shitting seven colours", our way of saying "shitting bricks".
--- End quote ---
Now there's an interesting parallel...
The seven-colours thing is clearly rainbow related, but relating it to... fecal matter... is also used over here.
As in... "I'll knock/kick seven colours o' shit fae ye!" (An not altogether serious threat... used in situations where your pal might be annoying you.. "Gie it a rest, or I'll knock seven colours o' shit oot o' ye!"
(Usually followed from said friend with "Aye, right! Treh it!" ("Try it!")) :)
Cornelius:
And when a kid keeps going "And if... but if.... if...."the answer often is "If your aunt had wheels, she'd be a little cart." That's usually a good point to stop.
Tova:
I guess that makes about as much sense as, "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
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