# Phrases that sound "dirty" but aren't... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 22, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922 "2013-10-22T12:13:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/21 "2013-10-22T17:07:05Z")
Mowing the lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/22 "2013-10-22T18:14:58Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > No - that actually _is_ dirty. I mean, I know these days it simply means “spent all my money” or thereabouts, but it’s origin is sexual… I may be wrong and I don’t have a cite for it, but I understood that “blew his wad” came from “shot his wad”, thich came from black powder, muzzle loaded firearms and cannons. The term “wad” refers to the wadding that goes between the powder and the ball. For example, if a duelist shot first and missed, he had “shot his wad” and was at the mercy of the other duelist. However, all of this may have only existed in my head. No doubt, the usage has taken on a sexual conotation nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/23 "2013-10-22T18:18:51Z")
Three actual towns in Pennsylvania: The road from Blue Ball to Paradise runs through Intercourse. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/24 "2013-10-22T18:29:34Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > I may be wrong and I don’t have a cite for it, but I understood that “blew his wad” came from “shot his wad”, thich came from black powder, muzzle loaded firearms and cannons. The term “wad” refers to the wadding that goes between the powder and the ball. > > For example, if a duelist shot first and missed, he had “shot his wad” and was at the mercy of the other duelist. > > However, all of this may have only existed in my head. No doubt, the usage has taken on a sexual conotation nowadays. I searched on “origin shoot your wad” and one of the first results was an old SDMB thread - I love the Dope! > **[Shooting your wad - etymology](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=276584)** > > What is the origin of the phrase shooting your wad? Google brings up conflicting results. In short - it looks like you’re right! It is likely more of an ammunition reference that _later came to be considered_ a slang for ejaculation. Ignorance fought! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/25 "2013-10-22T18:32:43Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > With the properly arched eyebrow, ANY thing you say can sound dirty. If you know what I mean… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/26 "2013-10-22T18:44:36Z")
Shelly Berman once wrote a book, first published in 1966, called [Cleans & Dirtys,](http://www.amazon.com/SHELLY-BERMANS-DIRTYS-Berman-Shelley/dp/B001A9RTL8/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382466883&sr=1-3&keywords=shelley+berman+cleans+dirtys) in which he explored this concept in some depth, like: A fast move is a clean A quickie is a dirty A slicer is a clean A hooker is a dirty Tarzan walking with Jane is a clean Tarzan swinging with Jane is a dirty. Henry is a clean Clyde is a dirty Kiss whom? is a clean Kiss what? is a dirty Did you go to the Y and swim? is a clean Did you go to the A & P? is a dirty Giggle is a clean Titter is a dirty Shelly even explores “clirty”, which is “a cleaned up dirty, but since it began as a dirty, it can never attain the rank of clean.” Hell is a dirty Heck is a clirty To pass a lake is a clean, But…To pass water is not a clirty, but a dirty. …and there’s more, so go buy the book on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/27 "2013-10-22T19:00:08Z")
From the SimCity series, when it is generating the world, a female (and to my ear, sexy) voice says, “Reticulating Splines.” That was the appellation for a poster here once, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/28 "2013-10-22T19:29:24Z")
In the bike shop the other day, the cashier confirmed his orientation by saying to the bloke on the shop floor: “I need you in front” 😃 > **[Are You Being Served?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Are_You_Being_Served%3F)** > > Are You Being Served? is a British sitcom created and written by executive producer David Croft (Croft also directed some episodes) and Jeremy Lloyd, with contributions from Michael Knowles and John Chapman, for the BBC. Set in London, the show follows the misadventures and mishaps of the staff of the retail ladies' and gentlemen's clothing departments in the flagship department store of a fictional chain called Grace Brothers. > The series was broadcast on the BBC for ten series, totalling 69 ... ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/29 "2013-10-22T19:34:45Z")
I have to go water my succulents. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/30 "2013-10-22T19:40:57Z")
Hmm…how about Tickling Your Uvula? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/31 "2013-10-22T20:15:40Z")
Exit 664 on I-5 used to have a sign reading Balls Ferry. Google Earth doesn’t show it now, although it does show Balls Ferry Road nearby. Yes, it’s childish, but I was usually tired enough by the time I reached it to giggle. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/32 "2013-10-22T20:25:09Z")
Trimming the hedge. Shucking the clams. Steam cleaning the carpet. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/33 "2013-10-22T20:29:13Z")
When your yeast flocculates, it’s time to rack. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/34 "2013-10-22T20:32:25Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Wankel Rotary Engine Beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_from\_CB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alex\_from\_CB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_from_CB)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/35 "2013-10-22T20:39:16Z")
**Moby Dick** …is not a venereal disease and neither is **Grape Nuts Flakes**. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/36 "2013-10-22T20:40:15Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Shelly Berman once wrote a book, first published in 1966, called [Cleans & Dirtys,](http://www.amazon.com/SHELLY-BERMANS-DIRTYS-Berman-Shelley/dp/B001A9RTL8/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382466883&sr=1-3&keywords=shelley+berman+cleans+dirtys) \…and there’s more, so go buy the book on Amazon. My favorite from this book: A napkin that is dirty is clean. A napkin that is sanitary is dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/37 "2013-10-22T20:57:22Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > With the properly arched eyebrow, ANY thing you say can sound dirty. Spock had _such_ a dirty mind! ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/38 "2013-10-22T22:12:55Z")
From my guitar and mandolin experience, “Changing my G-string.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/39 "2013-10-22T22:17:04Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > From the SimCity series, when it is generating the world, a female (and to my ear, sexy) voice says, “Reticulating Splines.” > > That was the appellation for a poster here once, wasn’t it? [Still is](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php), without the space. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-that-sound-dirty-but-arent/671922/40 "2013-10-22T22:28:06Z")
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