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DFW

(56,557 posts)

72. Not yet, anyway

Mon Nov 29, 2021, 05:03 PM

Nov 2021

She seemed to know what she was looking for. But, it didn't even make the news in France that I saw.

Just idiot Republicans back in America making a big deal over it--THAT made the news, but only for a second. After a few centuries of their own idiot politicians, they can spot ours in less time time than it takes to say "oui."

Besides, the expression has no negative connotations at all in French to begin with.

Remember in 2003 when the French declined to join us in invading Iraq? In their canteen, the House Republicans replaced "French Fries" with "Freedom Fries," in order to insult the French. The thing is, what we call "French fries" are really a Belgian way of serving potatoes, and the French have been chiding us to stop calling them "French" fries," and properly call them "Belgian Fries," or just "frites." So, in an attempt to insult the French, the House Republicans did something the French had been requesting for decades. When they heard that it was meant as an insult, they just scratched their heads, once again getting confirmation of their opinion that many Americans have a screw loose.

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Highlight:

A few things you may not have known: [View all] CaliforniaPeggy Nov 2021 OP

I know for sure that at least some of these are not accurate. tblue37 Nov 2021 #1

Yea TimeToGo Nov 2021 #4

How about telling us which ones those are? ShazzieB Nov 2021 #13

Well, for instance, a shot of whiskey ... Jim__ Nov 2021 #16

I agree that "shot of whiskey" etymology sounds mighty dubious. But... Bucky Nov 2021 #32

State rooms. A shot of whiskey. Over a barrel. tblue37 Nov 2021 #19

Interesting.. whathehell Nov 2021 #2

👍 Joinfortmill Nov 2021 #3

That's a compilation of folk etymology DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #5

Please tell us how you know. ShazzieB Nov 2021 #15

Google a few of them DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #20

How would you know if some French person is saying "rif et raf"? Bucky Nov 2021 #34

No--French pronounce Fs at the end of words. spooky3 Nov 2021 #36

It would, indeed DFW Nov 2021 #66

Thanks, DFW. spooky3 Nov 2021 #68

The French have a great expression: DFW Nov 2021 #69

I hope they didn't say that about the VP. :-) nt spooky3 Nov 2021 #70

Not yet, anyway DFW Nov 2021 #72

LOL! Nt spooky3 Nov 2021 #73

You Google it.. whathehell Nov 2021 #51

I'm surprised by this hostility. DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #56

I was surprised by the arrogance whathehell Nov 2021 #61

Another one, from the same source DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #21

How about posting the LINK, i.e. "the same source"? whathehell Nov 2021 #53

. Effete Snob Nov 2021 #71

Lol whathehell Nov 2021 #74

Some may be correct DavidDvorkin Nov 2021 #23

DavidDorkin: You are right. Fun but wrong. Martin68 Nov 2021 #64

The play/movie was based on a NC " showboat" unc70 Nov 2021 #6

That's how I knew the history of that term, too. n/t intheflow Nov 2021 #18

Always love word and phrase origins! Thanks. TigressDem Nov 2021 #7

"The whole nine yards" Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #8

I always wondered about that one. momta Nov 2021 #10

Didn't see this before I posted my explanation. See my post about fabric, #26. George II Nov 2021 #27

Well, that sounds just as logical. Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #33

I love stuff lile this. Grumpy Old Guy Nov 2021 #9

When traveling from England to India lapfog_1 Nov 2021 #11

Well . . . TimeToGo Nov 2021 #14

Generally the simple explanation is indeed correct NullTuples Nov 2021 #17

Depends on what we mean by simple TimeToGo Nov 2021 #29

Interesting. Thanks for posting. Jim__ Nov 2021 #12

Cool stuff. Today I'm wiser tomorrow I'm older..74 mountain grammy Nov 2021 #22

Happy birthday! Many happy returns! ❤ littlemissmartypants Nov 2021 #37

Thank you mountain grammy Nov 2021 #42

Happy Birthday! nt Heartstrings Nov 2021 #46

Thank you.. mountain grammy Nov 2021 #52

By golly I learned something today JPPaverage Nov 2021 #24

Interesting & fun, thanks for posting Peggy. As a appalachiablue Nov 2021 #25

Another one: many years ago fabric was sold in increments of three yards, up to nine yards. George II Nov 2021 #26

Nine yard 3auld6phart Nov 2021 #47

Nine yard 3auld6phart Nov 2021 #48

Fun empedocles Nov 2021 #28

I'll take a shot of oil and a barrel of whiskey. NBachers Nov 2021 #30

I knew "curfew" and "buying the farm" but that's about it. calimary Nov 2021 #31

I'm surprised the WWI life insurance policy was $5000. I think that might marybourg Nov 2021 #35

❤ nt littlemissmartypants Nov 2021 #38

"State Rooms" have been called that since before there were states or steamships Bucky Nov 2021 #39

The term "hot off the press" originated in the days when newspapers used a process called sop Nov 2021 #40

Maybe maybe not. The Jungle 1 Nov 2021 #49

"Hot off the press - everyday phrases that come from printing." sop Nov 2021 #55

Maybe maybe not. The Jungle 1 Nov 2021 #65

Ah yes, the good ol' Linotype machine. trof Apr 2022 #75

I learned the etymology of "sleep tight" just this year. OilemFirchen Nov 2021 #41

That was a cool post I_UndergroundPanther Nov 2021 #43

Hot off the press. twodogsbarking Nov 2021 #44

Thanks Peggy! Love your posts! flying_wahini Nov 2021 #45

Another one - when a horse is withdrawn from a race it's "scratched" - in England centuries ago.... George II Nov 2021 #50

Pretty sure "over a barrel" refers to the sexual proclivities of sailors re young boys. eppur_se_muova Nov 2021 #54

It could, but... Marcuse Nov 2021 #60

Where did the word Threshhold come from? in the 1500's ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #57

Here are 4 more: "bone house", "graveyard shift", "saved by the bell, and "dead ringer". ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #59

I love these, and all others like them! BobTheSubgenius Nov 2021 #58

I learned a few things today lunatica Nov 2021 #62

I just checked up on the first one because it sounded very doubtful. Martin68 Nov 2021 #63

Looking this stuff up is half the fun DFW Nov 2021 #67