Expressions & Sayings Index

[starleen2]

Have you ever wondered where some of the expressions and sayings used in everyday language come from? The following link contains many common expressions and sayings you may well have used yourself, along with explanations of their meanings and where they originated. Have fun

http://users.tinyonline.co.uk/gswithenbank/sayindex.htm

[steve smoot]

Just like a persimmon seed in a possum...I'm just passin' thru...

[len19070]

They have forgotten my favorite,

"Its Cold Enough To Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey"

Years ago when Ships had to go around the Cape of Good Hope to get to the US west coast...before the Panama canal, things would get very cold at the cape being so close to Antarctica.

Cannon on the Square rigged ships would have a rack to hold cannon balls on called a Monkee.

This rack was made of Brass, the Cannon ball were made of Iron.

When going through the Cape and the extreme cold temperatures the brass Monkee would contract quicker than the Iron cannon balls, causing the balls to break off of the Brass monkee and roll all over the deck.

Argo the Phrase " It was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass Monkee."

Happy Trails

Len

[Zollinger]

OMG. Husband and I we wondering yesterday where the phrase "Bob's your uncle" came from? Now I know. Thanks for the link!

[gullywompr]

When going through the Cape and the extreme cold temperatures the brass Monkee would contract quicker than the Iron cannon balls, causing the balls to break off of the Brass monkee and roll all over the deck.

Yeah right. Nice try, buddy.

[len19070]

When going through the Cape and the extreme cold temperatures the brass Monkee would contract quicker than the Iron cannon balls, causing the balls to break off of the Brass monkee and roll all over the deck.

Yeah right. Nice try, buddy.

What the hell kind of response is that?

These are stories, not facts.

I posted a good story, nothing more..

[planovet]

Come on guys, let's play nice.

That list doesn't have my favorite: "Drunker than Cooter Brown."

[chorizon]

Come on guys, let's play nice.

That list doesn't have my favorite: "Drunker than Cooter Brown."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooter_Brown

As drunk as "Steve"...

[gullywompr]

What the hell kind of response is that?

Whoa! I had no intention of making anybody upset, or of showing disrespect. I thought I was doing a bit of friendly ribbing, but I guess I picked the wrong emoticon. I apologize for not crafting a better worded message, my fault.

[Looneytoons]

They have forgotten my favorite,

"Its Cold Enough To Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey"

Years ago when Ships had to go around the Cape of Good Hope to get to the US west coast...before the Panama canal, things would get very cold at the cape being so close to Antarctica.

Cannon on the Square rigged ships would have a rack to hold cannon balls on called a Monkee.

This rack was made of Brass, the Cannon ball were made of Iron.

When going through the Cape and the extreme cold temperatures the brass Monkee would contract quicker than the Iron cannon balls, causing the balls to break off of the Brass monkee and roll all over the deck.

Argo the Phrase " It was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass Monkee."

Happy Trails


Len

Actually, I think this is true. At least that's the explanation I've always been told.

A similar one is "A flash in the pan". There are a couple of versions on this one but I am familiar with it as it relates to a flintlock rifle. When the trigger is pulled on the flintlock rifle, it drops a lever holding a piece of flint. The flint strikes a piece of metal called a frizzen and creates a spark. The spark ignites a small amount of gunpowder in the "pan". The gun powder then burns through a small hole in the barrel and ignites the gunpowder in the barrel that fires the gun.

However, sometimes in wet weather the powder in the pan will ignite but extinguish itself before igniting the gun powder in the barrel and the gun misfires. Thus you have the gunpowder igniting (flashing) in the pan but no bullet leaves the barrel.

All you have is a "flash in the pan" Quite spectacular at first but no results in the long run.

[len19070]

Sorry, Sorry.

I guess I'm a little testy around Tax time.

Happy Trails

Len

[gullywompr]

Len, thanks for the reply. I'll take a bit longer to think next time.

[mk10108]

What the hell kind of response is that?

Whoa! I had no intention of making anybody upset, or of showing disrespect. I thought I was doing a bit of friendly ribbing, but I guess I picked the wrong emoticon. I apologize for not crafting a better worded message, my fault.

"Tact is for people who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic"

I got it.....