Discussion » Questions » Language » "Clean as a whstle", "Clear as a bell". Do you know any other oft-used phrases that make no sense?
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"Clean as a whstle", "Clear as a bell". Do you know any other oft-used phrases that make no sense?

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Posted - August 15, 2020
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Responses


  • 53528

     

      As sick as a dog.

      Carries his heart on his sleeve.

      Two shakes of a lamb’s tail. 

      The salt of the earth. 

      Catch as catch can.

      He thinks on his feet.

      The four corners of the earth.

      It has no rhyme or nor reason.

      As snug as a bug in a rug.

      Bar none.

      ~

      


    This post was edited by Randy D at August 15, 2020 9:48 PM MDT
      August 15, 2020 5:39 PM MDT
    2

  • 44655
    That's what I'm talking about. A shake is an informal usage of 10 nanoseconds in physics. A bit of trivia.
    Should that be nor reason?
      August 15, 2020 9:29 PM MDT
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  • 53528

     

      Yes, you’re right: “nor”.  Thanks, it’s been edited. 

    ~

      August 15, 2020 9:47 PM MDT
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  • 44655
    All is well in tiny town.
      August 15, 2020 9:49 PM MDT
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  • 16839
    "Bar none" makes sense. No exceptions. Compare the wrestling term, "no holds barred", ie anything goes.
      August 17, 2020 5:17 PM MDT
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  • 53528

     

      Good point, thank you. 

    ~

      August 17, 2020 5:20 PM MDT
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  • 880
    23 skidoo
      August 15, 2020 6:15 PM MDT
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  • 13277
    It is what it is.
      August 15, 2020 9:40 PM MDT
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  • 44655
    Reported.
      August 15, 2020 9:50 PM MDT
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  • 13277
    Now THERE'S one that makes no sense!
      August 15, 2020 10:02 PM MDT
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  • 19937
    Dry as a bone
    Mad as a hatter
    Mad as a wet hen

      August 16, 2020 10:08 AM MDT
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  • 44655
    'Mad as a hatter' is a phrase used do describe those employed in the hat-making business when they 'set' the hats in vats of mercury, the vapors of iwhich caused mercury poisoning and brain damage, thus partial insanity.
      August 16, 2020 2:00 PM MDT
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  • 19937
    Interesting.  Learned something new today, thanks. :)
      August 17, 2020 9:29 AM MDT
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  • 53528

     

    “Mad as a wet hen” is loosely connected to the other poultry-related phrase “run around like a chicken with its head cut off”, the former refers to the fact that when hens or roosters get doused suddenly with water (not rainfall, for example), it catches them by surprise, they freak out and begin running around as if to try and get away from it.
    ~

      August 17, 2020 9:54 AM MDT
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  • 1952
    By the skin of your teeth, cost an arm and a leg, jump on the bandwagon, right as rain, it's darkest before the dawn, low man on the totem pole, to pull someone's leg, Don't cry over spilled milk.
      August 17, 2020 9:50 AM MDT
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  • 1893
    Clean as a whistle = Bosun Whistle being clean and ready to sound out.  If the whistle was fouled the cat would be out of the bell.  The Bosun would be flogged by a Cat of nine tials

    Clear as a bell = the clapper has been silenced so as not to give awa a ships position in a night action.  Generally the clapper had been removed.

    A an old friend was a Professor of Languages, so I have heard the origins of most of these phrases.  He never finished his book on this subject before his death.  Now we did have many a good weekend over scotch doing some research.

    Now one for you, not worth a Kings schilling
      August 17, 2020 4:08 PM MDT
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  • 16839
    Flat out like a lizard drinking.
    Mad as a cut snake.
    Drunk as a skunk. (Its equivalent, "p*ssed as a parrot", does make some kind of sense. They've been known to eat fermented fruit, or drink fermented nectar, and get totally rat-faced, which is another one that doesn't).
    Dutch treat.
      August 17, 2020 5:23 PM MDT
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  • 53528

     

      Doesn’t Dutch treat derive from the concept of going Dutch in how a bill is to be split between all parties?
    ~

      August 17, 2020 5:27 PM MDT
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  • 16839
    Yes, but "Dutch treat" is no treat at all - everybody pays their own.
      August 17, 2020 5:37 PM MDT
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  • 53528

     

      A person can treat himself or herself, correct?
    ~

      August 17, 2020 7:34 PM MDT
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  • 16839
    And what does it have to do with people from Holland? Dutch people are no more or less generous than anyone else I've met.
      August 17, 2020 9:47 PM MDT
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  • 53528

     

      Why jump down my throat?  Did I state anything about people from Holland?  No.  Did I state that it had to do with whether the Dutch are or are not anything?  No. Did I even originate the expression? No. Did I say it was correct or accurate or appropriate or beneficial or respectful? No. I merely stated the common meaning/understanding of the expression.

      August 17, 2020 10:45 PM MDT
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  • 16839
    All good and no offence meant. It's an expression that makes no sense, that's all.
      August 17, 2020 10:52 PM MDT
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  • 53528

     

      Thank you. Closed issue. 

    ~

      August 17, 2020 11:00 PM MDT
    1