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Where did it come from?

Have you ever wondered where a particular word or phrase came from? Deadringer, honeymoon, babble, deader than a doorbell. These are just a few that I know of.

I assume that many of you have such words and phrases you and your family have used such things as these. I have wondered what the etomology of many different words and phrases are and would enjoy if my fellow wooters would share the roots of their favorite words and phrases.

by sgoman5674
asked 2 years ago

14 Answers answer

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Here is a bit of German nonsense my parents and grandparents sometime say, it drives me crazy. Rennfahrer Biberle The first bit means racer, which explains why they say it in the car, the second word, I assume has no meaning or they do not know the meaning. It probably is Schwaebisch nonsense.

catbertthegreat
2 years ago

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@catbertthegreat: Well, here you go.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.dewiki.net/rennfahrer_biberle.html%3FPHPSESSID%3Dec30873ee490b67b3c140a6b7ee5a224&ei=2eR7TMy8JYi4sQP16dGCBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CEIQ7gEwCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drennfahrer%2Bbiberle%26hl%3Den%26prmd%3Di

Woof. Better to copy and paste that link, because the question mark is going to break it in Deals.

For those that do not wish to read the full link, "Since the small Erwin (hence the nickname "Biberle") was particularly gifted, he was transferred with 10 years in the school of the monastery Ochsenhausen." I'll go look it up in one of my German texts, but I believe that the reference to small is accurate.

shrdlu
2 years ago

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@shrdlu: Thanks

catbertthegreat
2 years ago

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My problem with idioms is when people get them wrong! Such as "up the wazoo," I have multiple friends that say "up the kazoo," which is wrong! Apparently, wazoo is slang for butt, and the term means a lot, or getting a raw deal.

mrmucox
2 years ago

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@mrmucox: I admit I like the mental image of something being shoved into a little kazoo.

@sgoman5674: What about made up words from children? My twins came up with "woobie pudge." It's the little pad of fat that some people have at the front crease of their arm pit. They also had "arm pists" instead of arm pits. Cleavage between the breasts was called a "booby crack," as opposed to their butt crack. (kids!)
They ate "brekfixt" instead of breakfast and my son was fascinated with "dijigal" clocks and like "trokical juice."
Their older sister would have a sore "goat" instead of a sore throat and also liked to have her dad tickle her "goat." And she liked to watch "The Andy Grippit Show."

lavikinga
2 years ago

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Ha up the Kazoo I can see a co worker saying that, he mixes metaphors

My personal favorite is

"I don't want to put anything in your mouth that you don't want there" - feel free to guess at interpretations of this. I believe a few of you may already know.

hobbit
2 years ago

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@hobbit: HAHA, that's almost as bad as "Do you kiss your mother with that tongue?" Yes, I have heard that one!

mrmucox
2 years ago

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@mrmucox: Oh wow that is a good one. Do you work in my office???

We actually have a WALL dedicated to this man's mixed metaphors.

hobbit
2 years ago

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Same Coworker loves to say: "This is just a blow and go job" Oh and he loves to "tur on" the contractors. Sadly they don't mean what you all are thinking.

hobbit
2 years ago

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This one has to be really easy, yet I don't know the origin: "The real McCoy." Anyone?

I have to assume it comes from some sort of Star Trek episode having to do with clones or tribbles ... surely.

gwintner
2 years ago

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From wikipedia:
"The Real MacKay," a Scots phrase that appeared first in 1856 as "A drappie o’ [drop of] the real MacKay," by the Scottish National Dictionary; the same work says that the phrase was later adopted as a slogan to promote G Mackay & Co Ltd's whisky. The Oxford English Dictionary quotes Robert Louis Stevenson from 1883 in a letter saying "He's the real Mackay."

In Scotland the reference is always the real MacKay (with the ay pronounced as in the word "eye"). In Ireland this changed to McCoy. The Irish MacKays, McCoys and Magees originated in Scotland and the Isle of Man, crossing to Ulster as Gallowglasses in the 13th century.

attilathemom
2 years ago

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@lavikinga: Made up words from kids work. I think some words that are used today were made up by kids, albeit famous kids. I have yet to think of any right now, but will think on it.

sgoman5674
2 years ago

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@sgoman5674: FINALLY my brain engaged on demand! Sniglets! I couldn't think of the word.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sniglet
The Washington Post used to run The Style Invitational Open on Sundays. Once in awhile they would play their own version of the Sniglet game.

It's been years since I've read the Post. The Sunday Style section was my favorite and I truly miss "The Ear That No One Reads." http://mmexandra.tripod.com/earlist.htm That link will help you waste several minutes at work.

lavikinga
2 years ago

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Ppl at church use baby talk alot. like gettim L's & w's mixed up. its really fun. i like the southern slang of tower: "tire"

megankc
3 months ago

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