I asked one of my co-workers, “How’s tricks?” today in an attempt to make idle conversation and he looked at me as if I were speaking a foreign language. It seemed quite odd. A little while later, I asked another one of my co-workers, “How’s tricks?” in another attempt to make idle conversation and he also looked at me as if he had never heard the saying before in his entire life.
It’s a common saying, isn’t it?
I kind of felt like the guy in that episode of “The New Twilight Zone” where the language suddenly changes out from under his nose.
Rest assured Snooooopy, if you asked me “How’s tricks?” I would begining screaming like a domestically abused orangutan and start beating you around the ears with Thin Mints.
Snooooopy, I know what you mean. I recently started using this phrase (I have no idea why…) and the number of people who ask me what the hell I’m talking about just amazes me. The girl I’m currently seeing looked at me like I was a blithering idiot and just said “What?”. What part of the country are you from?
I like to keep my conversations fairly fresh, and rotate out slang and expressions, 'cause there’s nothing that irks me more than someone who uses the same phrases over and over and over and over and over.
Damn straight on the un-hipness of society today. Once in a while I’ll refer to someone as “Cat.” Ex. “That cat makes a mean martini.” Invariably someone around will ask “What? What did you say?” When I try to explain, they look at me like marbles are coming out my nose.
I’ve said “how’s tricks” once in a while. I’ll call people “cat” once in a while, although for some reason I associate the term with Richard Petty… People look at me funny for “cat” but not “how’s tricks”.
I think today I might try asking “What’s shakin’?” when I attempt to make idle conversation – God forbid someone should reply with “Nothing’s shaking. What are you talking about?”
I’ve had several people regard me strangely after using that phrase. Although Zenster, I think I the only place I’ve heard it is television. Didn’t Dick Van Dyke used to say it occasionally?
I’ve heard the saying on TV before. Usually some detective talking to a cheaply dresses woman. I assumed she was a prostitute. Maybe you’are lucky you didn’t get slapped, or slugged by some guy.
Doesn’t anyone read noir detective fiction!!? They’re always going around saying that. Think they said it a couple of times in “The Sting” as well… It means, “Everything is perfect”.
Is this something that all you old people have heard? No offense intended but I’m just 15 so don’t mind me. But I’ve never heard the phrase before. The closest thing I’ve heard is “turning tricks” and that DOES relate to prostitution so I doubt that’s what you mean so…