h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

hello:
please write any idiom or phrase you know or like and write its meaning and when it's used. i will be very happy if you shared.

Does internet slang count? If so, I'm quite fond of:
"What is this I don't even!"

If you don't understand this, don't worry. Not understanding is the correct response, because it's a nonsense phrase.
It's used as a reply when someone has posted something that makes no sense. The idea is that the only possible response is one that makes equally little sense. The wording also sends out a message of bewilderment, but the structure of the 'sentence' sends its own message.

An idiom is a group of words that has a meaning not deducible from the individual words, eg.

"over the moon" = delighted

Many a mickle maks a muckle.

Lots of small things add up to a big thing.

Icy, thanks.

And----------- Robert

thanks Not the monkey - genus Poecile

I've never really understood 'to hell in a handbasket' which I presume means that the events in process are likely to lead to disaster. I have a picture of some poor unfortunate strapped into the basket in front of a bicycle being ridden by a mad crazy fool, like this but that ain't exactly a handbasket. . . so I am stumped as to where this came from.

We say a lot of things that don't literally mean the words they use.

"put ones foot in it" = make an embarrassing mistake

(eg. "Every time I open my mouth I put my foot in it")

Fits gaun tae ye willna gang by ye.

You will get what you are due.

____________

Cauld kale het again

An overused explanation or excuse.

___________

Thon's a lad o' pairts

That is a talented young man

____________

The shakkins o' the poke

The youngest child of the family

Worth a guinea a box - good quality

(Isn't it about time you lot voted for devolution)

"under the weather" = unwell

Icy's phrase even has its own smiley here in hootooland.

Devolution? Too busy culturally enriching our Southern cousins

The mither nivver haed a sang bit her dochter haed a verse o't

Like mother, like daughter.

__________

Thon's a big man ahent the door

A keyboard warrior.

>>The shakkins o' the poke

>>The youngest child of the family

Thats a good one! The English translation* would be The last shake of the bag. Its used in Ireland, too, usually to mean a final child born some years after their siblings. Imagine the last sweet shaken from a paper bag.



* dont worry, btw...swls examples are East Coast and dont even translate as far as West Central Scotland.

Hes as daft as a brush.

Hes not clever (not usually said in a malign way)

My Grandpop used to say Hes as daft as a brush - and a daft brush at that. (ie as daft as a particularly daft brush)

A phrase (really a word) I never use is Gobsmacked = very surprised (literally smacked in the mouth)

Its widespread usage is probably only about 15 years old - but its very common,

Why dont I say it? No reason. I just dont.

Lang may yer lum reek wi ither folk's coal.

Live long and prosper

>> I've never really understood 'to hell in a handbasket' <<

Probably best not to think about it too much lanzababe!

I suspect it refers to the basket used to catch decapitated
heads - ie: of criminals or kings who have been sent to the
chopping block or guillotine.

In those ancient days, when beheading was the principle form
of capital punishment, executions were public and very popular.

No doubt everyone believed that justice was being served. And
there would have been a belief in a Divine Justice as well as
a good supply (if not a surplus) of disposable wicker ware.

Today we'd probably use a plastic bucket.


~jwf~

Can anyone explain that of "get your twist in a knicker"? sort of.

It's knickers in a twist.

It refers to a level of agitated irritation
such as might occur if your underwear binds
or rides up in an intolerably uncomfortable
way that causes distraction and anger.


~jwf~