By Nan Donovan, columnist
Do you ever wonder where some of the expressions we often use comes from?
I was leafing through a book called “Humble Pie and Cold Turkey” and it explained a lot about some of the dumbest expressions. Many came from other countries, others, well who knows where or when they got started. But they became so poplar, we are still using them today.
I do believe that people in different parts of the United States have their own “slang” language. For instance, when I moved south of the Mason-Dixon Line over 40 years ago, I had an expression that I used daily. It was “red off” (I don’t know how it’s spelled), meaning clear off the table or red up that mess. Come to think of it, it does sound odd. Don’t know when was the last time I used that expression.
I don’t hear as many of the silly expressions today. I think the younger generation is making up new expressions. For instance, where did the expression “bro” get started. Does it refer to brother? And then there’s “BFF”. I think that means best friend forever, but mainly these sayings are used by the teenagers and I’m sure there’s a lot more in their language.
Expressions like “your goose is cooked,” “be hauled over the coals,” “between a rock and a hard place,” are usually expressions of trouble. When talking to someone who isn’t paying attention, we usually tell them “to get their head out of the clouds.” I wonder who came up with that one?
Something I learned from that book was many of those old sayings came from the Bible. “To raise hell,” meaning to conjure up the spirit of the devil. “To raise Cain,” means to invoke the spirit of Cain to create a really riotous disturbance.
Then there’s “a fly in the ointment,” “barking up the wrong tree,” “put through the mill,” and “cash in your chips.” We say these things a lot of times, without really understanding them or where and how they originated.
Will they ever go out of style? Will they eventually be forgotten, never to be heard again? I hope not. Just listen in to a group of older gentlemen telling stories of “back when.” They use the language of the talk they were used to hearing. Simple, funny and oh so memorable.
I would really like to know what you would like me to write about. Something in your community you would like to have, getting together once a week or month with other Senior Citizens. Also I would like to meet you so I am going to be at the park in Stanley from 10 to 12 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18; Luray Inn Town Park, across from the library on Wednesday, June 19 and Shenandoah down at the boat landing on Thursday, June 20. Time will be 10 to 12 a.m. Bring your coffee.
Till next time, be safe.
“The Right Age” is a weekly column written for senior citizens by 84-year-old Nan Donovan, who has lived in the Shenandoah Valley for 45 years. She has worked for newspapers, as well as radio and television stations, including WLCC. She moved to the Valley from Pennsylvania.
•••
PREVIOUS COLUMNS
The Right Age ~ Undecided on the ‘situation’
The Right Age ~ Prepare for summer
The Right Age: Did he pick the wrong one?
The Right Age: Accident safety and devices
The Right Age: Memories of 1978
The Right Age: Something as simple as a can opener
The Right Age: Should I get another car?
The Right Age: How would you rate your happiness?
Be the first to comment