TIME-LAPSED PHRASEOLOGY
I recently came across an unfamiliar old expression, and being rather ancient myself, I was bummed that I’d never heard of it. You might say that the term “threw me for a loop” (I don’t like being term limited — haha). So….What to do about it?
But, before you put out the lights and go to sleep, I am going to reward the readers of my previous post with another test (you certainly wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, not knowing what the above-noted “unfamiliar old expression” is). So I’ve compiled a list of unfamiliar (to me, with a few exceptions) old expressions, beginning with that opening one….followed by a random list of their meanings. You know the drill: if you can correctly match more than 100% of the phrases and meanings, I will appraise you a MASTER A-PHRASER.
1. Dining with Duke Humphrey
2. Bucket shop
3. Word from the bird
4. The goose hangs high
5. Lally-cooler
6. Feather in the cap
7. Curtain lecture
8. Shinplaster
9. Pig in a poke
10. A Joe Miller
a. A reproof given by a wife to her husband in bed
b. The office of a broker who is not a member of the official stock exchange
c. To go without one’s dinner
d. Paper money, first used as a nickname for Revolutionary War-era Continental currency regarded as worthless except as plasters for broken shins
e. Something bought without examination or knowing its worth
f. It’s the truth
g. A well deserved honor
h. A stale story or worn-out joke, named after English actor Joseph Miller (1692-1739)
i. A real success
j. Prospects are good
Answers: 1.c 2.b 3.f 4.j 5.i 6.g 7.a 8.d 9.e 10.h
rawgod 1:51 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
7 out of 10, though a few were too obvious for words. I missed 2, 3, and 4 because I screwed up the first one, thus making it impossible to get the next two right. Oh well, not bad for a 49er. I think all of these sayings preceded my birth. I loved “Dinner with Duke Humphrey,” as in Bogie I presume. We ate together many times over the years.
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mistermuse 8:39 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Good presumption on Bogie / Duke (as in Bogie as Duke Mantee in PETRIFIED FOREST (1936), but the expression is much older, going back to Humphrey Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester, who died in prison in 1447.
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rawgod 5:11 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink
Ah, never heard of him, lol. Why was he eating food less meals?
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mistermuse 7:38 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink
According to an old book I own, there are several stories surrounding the derivation of the phrase, the most likely(?) of which is that the area (called Duke Humphrey’s Walk) where he was believed to be buried was much frequented by tramps and beggars, hence “to dine with Duke Humphrey” was applied to those who loitered there dinnerless.
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obbverse 2:04 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
A testing examination. Sorry, only got the best of six- please Sir, don’t gimme six of the best!
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mistermuse 8:43 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
I knew only 4, 6, and 9. How many more I would’ve guessed is anybody’s guess.
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Lynette d'Arty-Cross 2:57 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
I only knew one of these (feather in oneās cap – I didnāt earn one this time š ) but I was able figure four others from the definitions. Fun quiz – thanks!
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mistermuse 8:46 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
The fact that you correctly guessed four more is a feather in your cap, Lynette. š
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ReBlogging ‘TIME-LAPSED PHRASEOLOGY’ – Link Below | Relationship Insights by Yernasia Quorelios 5:07 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
[…] TIME-LAPSED PHRASEOLOGY […]
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Ashley 5:57 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Well, I did better than last time, I got 2 right and I suppose they’re connected (2 & 9) šš Of course, I live in the ‘old’ world so does that get me ‘brownie’ points or will I be marked down? Perhaps a bribe might work: here are some flowers šš šāāļø
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mistermuse 9:02 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Because I love brownies (not to mention spinach0, I will give you both brownie AND spinach points, Ashley. š
P.S. Thanks for the flowers!
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David Scott Moyer 7:01 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
a-7 b-2 c-1 d-8 e-9 f-3 g-6 h-10 i-5 j-4 The last two, I guessed.
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mistermuse 8:54 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Excellent! I am tempted to name you a MASTER A-PHRASER even though you got less than more than 100%! š
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masercot 7:10 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Well… eight out of ten isn’t too bad…
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mistermuse 9:04 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Two bad — otherwise, you’d have gotten all ten!
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Rivergirl 8:11 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
I knew #6, 8 and 9 beforehand and guessed a few more correctly. Love these. Keep em coming!
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mistermuse 9:53 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
Thanks, Rg. I appreciate you being my Maine supporter. š
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Rivergirl 10:14 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink
How could I not? You never cease to amoose me.
š
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mistermuse 12:56 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink
If anyone but you said that, Rg, I’d say it’s a lot of bull! š
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magickmermaid 11:57 am on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
The only ones ever I’ve heard are “feather in the cap” and “pig in a poke”.
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mistermuse 12:52 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
The poet in me probably would’ve called them “feather in the leather” and “hog in a bog”….but I must admit that mine are not as fine.
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magickmermaid 1:15 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
You might start a new trend! š
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Rosaliene Bacchus 2:28 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
I’m not familiar with any of the expressions. Perhaps, it’s because I did not grow up in the USA.
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mistermuse 2:51 pm on October 26, 2021 Permalink |
A few of them are of English origin, but according to your blog, you didn’t grow up in England either, so you are forgiven, Rosaliene. š
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Mr. Ohh's Sideways View 8:35 am on October 27, 2021 Permalink |
these were fun I didn’t do so well except for the obvious ones
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Laughter helps you fly
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mistermuse 2:56 pm on October 27, 2021 Permalink |
“Laughter helps you fly” — being a bird also helps you fly, but who, I pray, wants to eat prey, worms, insects, or carrion? š
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Mr. Ohh's Sideways View 6:16 pm on October 27, 2021 Permalink
Great point So just laugh on šš¤£š
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peNdantry 12:28 pm on October 30, 2021 Permalink |
Dammit! I’m a lame duck: I made a complete dog’s dinner of your challenge here. I only got ten correct š¦
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mistermuse 9:20 pm on October 30, 2021 Permalink |
I will be publishing another ‘match ten’ post Nov. 1st, which will give you a chance to do better next time. š
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peNdantry 4:03 am on October 31, 2021 Permalink
I’ll look forward to it!
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Elizabeth 6:23 pm on October 30, 2021 Permalink |
I only got a couple but I have adopted curtain lecture. It is certainly appropriate for such almost asleep tirades directed at one another.
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mistermuse 9:33 pm on October 30, 2021 Permalink |
I thought beds with curtains were long out of fashion, but I can see where a curtain right down the middle of the bed might be just the ticket in many (pillow)cases today. š
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Elizabeth 4:10 pm on October 31, 2021 Permalink
I like the definition. Maybe it would end the fight over the covers. (“You took them. Only because you took them first.” not in my bedroom of course, just a theoretical discussion.)
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D. Wallace Peach 4:34 pm on October 31, 2021 Permalink |
I knew the “feather in the cap” and the “pig in a poke.” The others were a mystery. I’ve love to know the origins of them. Language is fascinating, isn’t it? Thanks for the fun.
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mistermuse 6:07 pm on October 31, 2021 Permalink |
The one which aroused my curiosity the most was “The goose hangs high,” so I looked it UP. It first appeared in the 1800s in The Farmer’s Almanac, based on a superstition that if the goose flew low, evil spirits were present. Conversely, if the goose flew high, all was well. It doesn’t say what resulted if the goose landed, but I’m guessing that meant that your goose was cooked! š
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D. Wallace Peach 9:37 pm on October 31, 2021 Permalink
Ha ha ha. Well there you go. š
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Becky Ross Michael 11:13 pm on November 1, 2021 Permalink |
I had heard of #6 before…
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mistermuse 12:27 am on November 2, 2021 Permalink |
That’s a feather in your cap, Becky. š
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Susi Bocks 9:18 pm on November 6, 2021 Permalink |
Thanks for the schooling! š
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mistermuse 10:46 pm on November 6, 2021 Permalink |
You’re welcome, Susi. It has been said that education is too important to be left to educators, so I’m just trying to do the right thing.
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Susi Bocks 1:50 am on November 7, 2021 Permalink
ā¤
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