quote:

Originally posted by Brakhus:

"Could you explain what those kind of rhymes are used for? What they could mean and how could people with little brain as I have, handle it?"

I started a Word file to save all what is posting here, in a table with two columns: One for the expression and one for the explanation. It is cool! But this issue about rhymes doesn't match my scheme. Wouldst thou help me?

I'm with you on this rhyming slang aka "Pidgen English," Brakhus. I found a couple sites with a little insight and hope they will give you an idea just how "far out" this kind of rhyming slang can be.....

http://www.aldertons.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A649

http://www.saidwhatguides.co.uk/cockneyslang.php

God bless you, Katie

Thank you my dear Katie42, how lovely you are! I'll visit the sites you said and hope I can continue learning.

God bless you too, my sister in Christ.

I'll give a clue.... apples and pears are something you climb, a whistle and flute is something you wear, and a ruby murray is something you eat....

O.k....I'm guessing "apples and pears" refers to a tree, maybe? And a ruby murray could be an apple? But "whistle and flute".......Anybody with any ideas?

Hey Dew Doc

Not the right tracks I'm afraid... remember its gotta rhyme. So trouble and strife - wife.
I'll give you another one: ruby murray - curry.

'Apples and pears' are found (usually) inside your house (but not in bungalows), and a 'whistle and flute' is a smart set of clothes worn by business people....
'Dog and bone' is something you talk to people on.......over long distances.

Keep thinking!

OHHHHHHHH....NOW I get it!

Apples & pears = stairs
Whistle & flute = suit
Dog and bone = phone

NOW how am I doing?

Let me try another saying:
Doc, do you know this one?

Don't be so nibby.
OR
You are a nibnose.

Meaning Don't be so nosy (getting into other's business)

Or You are nosy.

My Hoosier friends use that one.

Spot on Dew Doc!!

And a rosie lee is a cup of tea!!

I think 'proper' Londoners may only use the first word of the pair to shorten in, so instead of saying 'dog and bone' they'd just say 'dog' and you'd have to work out the rest.

Here's one that we Devon people use...
'Grockle'

As in 'you have to live here (in Devon) for 7 years before you're no longer a grockle.'

It's our word for 'tourist'. Don't ask where it came from as I have no idea!!

I was having too much fun with this thread to let it die. So here is another one. "When is rains, it pours". Meaning=it hasn't happened for a long time, and then it happens all at once ...

Example: Example: "It looks like everyone in our department is sick again, and all at the same time." Reply: "When it rains, it pours."

That reminds me of "Bad things come in threes."

I wonder, is this just an American-ism, or is it a worldwide superstition?

Example: The toilet overflows and makes a mess. Then, the washer breaks. And the person will say, "I am being very careful, now, because of course bad things come in threes." And, often enough, yet another bad thing will happen.

These are good ones...and yes, searcher, that saying is at least North American wide, if not world-wide!

Good ones, Groucho and Searcher2003!

I don't want state about if them are world-wide, because I don't know it, but "Bad things come in threes" is a superstition that is very common in spanish-speaking countries: "No hay dos sin tres" (It means, word by word: "There are not two without three").

Wonderful! It is impresing how superstition could get such geographical extension!

Thanks, Brakhus. I enjoy learning how these phrases are said in other languages. Your reply reminded me of a Chinese lady who described the Chinese version of "You can't have your cake and eat it too." It was something like this:

You cannot stand in two boats at the same time.

I could picture a person standing, their left foot in one small boat, their right foot in another...and imagined how difficult it would be to remain that way, especially if there were many waves.

Hey Brakhus..
"there are not two without three" is also used in France as well I think, something like 'Jamais deux sans trois.'

I was reading a book on the history of the Tour de France and came across it - one of the cyclists had said it when he punctured three times in one day!

That is amazing, as you can see. How extended is some thoughts of people.

By the way, I have two questions about expressions used in some threads, I don't understand and Webster dictionary failed:

1. Snippy? (Used by Bluangelgrrl)

2. "tong in cheek". I think I should not take it literally because the whole phrase had no sense, so it must be some commonly used expression that I couldn't find in dictionaries.

Would you explain them for me?

Thank you, as always.

Hi, Brakhus,

Those are good questions.

Tongue-in-cheek means "in a joking manner". (I read somewhere that it originated when people tried not to laugh at something funny that had been said. That they would push their tongue into their cheek to try to suppress the laugh.)

Snippy - short-tempered, blunt, (dictionary says: 1 - being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner, blunt 2 - easily irritated or annoyed, irritable

Hope that is helpful, Brakhus.

Thank you Searcher, it was so helpful. I wonder why Webster Dictionary (on line) hasn't snippy. Curious isn it?

Take a look:
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/snippy

I think www.merriam-webster.com has it. I don't know the history of the Merriam-Webster dictionary, but perhaps Mr. Merriam was a good influence on Mr. Webster? (Brakhus, that last comment was tongue-in-cheek.)

Brakhus,
I apologize for using some words that are more "urban" and not found in a regular dictionary.

One of the words I used, that you may not understand is Snarky. There are several definitions that it means, and I am including the one's that show what I meant when using the word.

Snarky=words that are intended to both impress and belittle someone at the same time. Or words said with sarcasm and cynicism. Words that are meant to be mean and belittling to another. When someone is being b*tchy to another person. (sorry, but that is part of what it means).

Snippy is another "urban word"
Snippy=One who gets mad or frustrated easily

tongue in cheek as was explained, something said in a joking manner, and not meant to be mean, vicious or to be taken seriously. It may or may not be said with some amount of sarcasm. Some would call it "straight faced" humor. Where you say something with a "straight face" that means the opposite of what you were really saying. The saying originated when comedians would say something, in a joking manner, yet they would not laugh to give away that it was actually something meant to be funny. They would either bite their tongue to avoid laughing, or would place their tongue in their cheek, to prevent laughing. It is one of the hardest types of humor to do well, yet many do it poorly, causing some amount of discomfort to others. Doing it "in print" as on a message board, or such, is even harder, for you don't have someone's face to see, and to try to figure out if they meant what they said, or if it was meant to be taken in a joking manner.

When I made the comment about your tounge in cheek humor, I meant no type of disrespect to you at all. You appear to have a similar style of humor that I have, one that can be considered "dry" or some would say perhaps a bit "sarcastic" at times....but isn't directed at any person that you are speaking to, but rather was directed at the website you quoted and such.

Thank you, dear Bluangelgrrl!

As you know, I'm learning something more than spirituality; I mean, english too. This is for this topic was started, to share some expression that at first sight, make no sense for non-speaking english people, as I'm. So, thanks our lovely sisters, there is this space where I can ask for explanation and learning.

Thank you so much for taking time to explain to me those expressions.

Brakhus.

Thank you, Bluangelgrrl, for taking your time for explaining what I asked.

As you know, I'm learning here more than spirituality, I'm leraning some english, as well. Thanks to our dear sisters, we have this space and topic for this kind of expressions that I don't understand.

Thank you for your kindness and for your patience.