# Hobo hints?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 12, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106 "2004-09-12T04:04:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gahudh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Gahudh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gahudh)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106/1 "2004-09-12T04:04:53Z")

</div>

Can anyone give me advice on impersonating a hobo? I already have the dishevelled (sp?) appearance down pat, but I can’t figure out how to make a swag out of a blanket and a stick. All ideas welcome!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ebca7d/32.png) [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106/2 "2004-09-12T04:10:54Z")

</div>

Go take a nap\* in a trainyard.

\*dump

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106/3 "2004-09-12T04:33:44Z")

</div>

[Here](http://www.halloweencostumes4u.com/prods/rub13683.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NadaHappyCamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@NadaHappyCamper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NadaHappyCamper)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106/4 "2004-09-12T16:08:39Z")

</div>

don’t Bathe,Brush Teeth,eat regular,Sleep in the Rain,play host to fleas and lice and other vermin , get locked up for a Vagrant,get the crap beaten out by a couple of "Good Old Boys,"on a Sat. nite,learn how to strain sterno thru rye bread,then learn how to ingest the finished product without puking your guts.just have a great time.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106/5 "2004-09-13T04:49:58Z")

</div>

According to some sources, the stick of a bindle was originally a hoe, like you’d weed a garden with. Hence the hoe-boy. There’s no apparent connection to _hautboy_, pronounced ho-boy, which became _oboe,_ the double reed instrument.

I’m a fount of useless information. 😛

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobo-hints/264106/6 "2004-09-13T12:40:46Z")

</div>

[Hobo](http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1400048095/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-9617893-6069768#reader-link).

It’s a very interesting, articulate, sad read. It will answer your questions and more.

Cartooniverse