Man, I simply adore sinking into trivial and pointless conversations. Why not?
Today?
FUN AND FUNKY PHRASES...what does this nutty-speak really mean?
This snap of lovely cat-tails is more delightful than other images when the phrase, CAN'T SWING A DEAD CAT, is muttered.
Personally, I pull that phrase out of the bag with regularly. As in...you can't swing one without hitting (fill in the blank). Oh, it is a fave!
Before you drop-a-dime (you know I occasionally toss in some cheap-novel-speak) on me for animal-hate, read on because you won't find a furry-feline in the origin of this dead-cat-dialogue. Still, it does conjure up cruelty of the human kind and that's just not a good thing, now is it?
ORIGIN OF CAN'T SWING A DEAD CAT: This harsh phrase harkens images of feline cruelty. Not about live cats, but the real story is not such a pretty one.
The "cat" referenced is a cat-of-nine-tails, a type of whip used to discipline sailors on old sailing ships. The cat-of-nine-tails has one handle to which is attached nine thin strips of leather, each perhaps three feet long. The cat-of-nine-tails would be used to administer lashings that would sting and leave welts on the recipient.
The whippings would take place on the deck, because below deck there was not enough ceiling height to swing a cat-of-nine-tails.
Get it?
Just seems to me that barking out a phrase like...Can't swing a whipping-whip..just does NOT have the same ring, right?
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Another phrase I have heard, forever (and that's a long time)?
Flat-as-a-Flitter.
Used in a sentence?
Florida is flat-as-a-Flitter.
This partik phrase made for lively conversation while hanging out in Fort Lauderdale recently.
Just 'zactly WHAT is a flitter and why haven't we wondered this before now?
This is where this blog on dumb phrases gets dicey.
No, really.
CONTROVERSY.
There are two camps.
One thinks it IS flitter and gives credit (blame) to it being just another Southern charmer.
Now, it gets good because others argue that it is FRITTER. A concoction of friend dough and filling (fruit, seafood, whatever).
We can all agree that there is simply NOTHING more distasteful than a flat fritter.
Fritter, Flitter...flat is flat and cat is cat.
Nutty phrases reign supreme, no matter their origin.
Oh, forget it, time to get this weekend started.
See ya 'round the beaches-real or virtual!
Read me fictionally, The Bainbridges of the Palm Beaches
Barnes & Noble, eStore
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