# Phrases you'd think people would know **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178 "2009-09-15T15:19:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [September 17, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/81 "2009-09-17T17:42:18Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > “Duck soup” was once a common enough expression that it became the title of a Laurel and Hardy short film and a much more famous Marx Brothers feature. It means “piece of cake.” > > ETA: I admit I had to look up the meaning. But I knew it was once a common expression! While living in Ohio, I heard “that’s sheer fruit” used in the same way as “that’s a piece of cake.” That’s also where I heard “too wet to plow” and “can’t dance” - phrases said with a shrug in response to a suggestion to do something and meaning something like “I’m not really enthusiastic about your suggestion, but I don’t have anything better to do so I might as well go along.” ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/82 "2009-09-17T21:02:07Z")
> [@stretch](#): > > I am trying to bring back “Oh my stars and garters!” … Won’t someone jump on my bandwagon with me? My 22-year-old daughter uses “Oh my stars and garters”. In high school, she went through a phase where she would say things like, “Holy Crap! For the love of Pete! Sweet mother-of-pearl!” Poor kid didn’t have very many friends. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/83 "2009-09-17T21:11:35Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > Never heard that one, but I’ve heard “getting all your ducks in a row.” Ha! I’m much more likely to use “aligning my waterfowl” after hearing a coworker use it years ago. Not having your ducks in a row would be a “waterfowl alignment issue.” > [@BobArrgh](#): > > My 22-year-old daughter uses “Oh my stars and garters”. In high school, she went through a phase where she would say things like, “Holy Crap! For the love of Pete! Sweet mother-of-pearl!” > > Poor kid didn’t have very many friends. I use “egad” more than anyone I know. I’m also quite fond of “crimeny.” ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/84 "2009-09-17T22:13:26Z")
Neither one of my sons (early thirties) knew what the hell I was talking about when I asked them\*\* “Are you a turtle?”. \*\*I always thought that was a universal inside joke that transcended all generational lines. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/85 "2009-09-17T22:19:31Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Is a “stickybeak” anything like a “nosy parker”? See post #70. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/86 "2009-09-17T22:37:19Z")
> [@BobArrgh](#): > > My 22-year-old daughter uses “Oh my stars and garters”. “Oh my sainted aunt!”. No idea where I first heard that. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/87 "2009-09-17T23:04:42Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Neither one of my sons (early thirties) knew what the hell I was talking about when I asked them\*\* “Are you a turtle?”. \*\*I always thought that was a universal inside joke that transcended all generational lines. You bet your sweet ass I am ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/88 "2009-09-18T00:02:00Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Is a “stickybeak” anything like a “nosy parker”? I’ve heard both ‘Nosy Parker’ and ‘Nosy Nellie.’ > [@Kingspades](#): > > Ha! I’m much more likely to use “aligning my waterfowl” after hearing a coworker use it years ago. Not having your ducks in a row would be a “waterfowl alignment issue.” 😃 I like that! ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/89 "2009-09-18T00:40:19Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Is a “stickybeak” anything like a “nosy parker”? Can be. Someone described with one could be described with the other – although I’d suggest (NZ older usaged at least) that Nosy Parker is slightly more pejorative. “Take a stickybeak” or “have a nosy” would have similar meanings and not be pejorative – if only because one could be describing ones self. 🙂 (BTW, haven’t heard it shortened to “sticky” in NZ – must be that fast-paced Oz lifestyle). 🙂 I hadn’t heard “honest to Pete” – but would have guessed its meaning as a bowdlerized oath. “Black catter” is new to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/90 "2009-09-18T01:04:12Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > You bet your sweet ass I am Given the thread title, how about, “You bet your sweet _bippy_ I am”? ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/91 "2009-09-18T01:49:33Z")
Until recently I was not aware of the phrase “to get one’s goat” – how it completely bypassed me, I don’t know. The first time I heard it, in context of “He really gets your goat, doesn’t he?”, I was somewhat confused and the only thing that came to mind was “… Mr. Handlebars?” 🙂 A friend of mine, a graduate student, somehow lived her entire life without encountering the phrase “gives me pause”. She refused to believe me this was not something I just made up until we looked it up. Another friend was astonished by the phrase “picking the low-hanging fruit” – and found it somewhat obscene. How do you get to adulthood without hearing “low hanging fruit” at least once? ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/92 "2009-09-18T02:30:47Z")
> [@groman](#): > > How do you get to adulthood without hearing “low hanging fruit” at least once? You certainly can’t avoid it in some kinds of business meetings that’s for sure… the same kind that are likely to feature: things in ballparks, being run up flagpoles, having their paradigms shifted, moving forward, and looking for win-wins and synergy. _BINGO_ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fantome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/93 "2009-09-18T02:39:26Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I’ve heard both ‘Nosy Parker’ and ‘Nosy Nellie.’ I call my wife a nosy parker all the time because it sounds funny, but the only reason I know the phrase and have heard it no where else is from _9 1/2 Weeks_. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/94 "2009-09-18T03:10:38Z")
I’ve used the phrase “I told (one of my students) how the cow ate the cabbage” and gotten weird looks from other doctoral students. I think the phrase “the straight dope” might be obscure today. I told some friends the other day that I’m a member of this message board, and about the book series, and people thought it had something to do with drug legalization. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/95 "2009-09-18T03:19:50Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Given the thread title, how about, “You bet your sweet _bippy_ I am”? Yeah, that works for the thread. But you ain’t no turtle. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/96 "2009-09-18T04:37:53Z")
Since moving to Texas, there are all kinds of things I saw that people just look at my like I’m crazy. To my surprise, it appears the people I socialize with have never heard of “booking it,” when you need to get moving fast. Another one is a “patsy” like a fall guy, and also “hunker down,” meaning to take shelter. Those are just a few of the ones I can remember off hand, but this stuff happens all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/97 "2009-09-18T18:35:44Z")
> [@groman](#): > > Until recently I was not aware of the phrase “to get one’s goat” – how it completely bypassed me, I don’t know. _sigh_ \*\*SeptemberDay \*\*permanently has my goat. ☹ Every once in awhile she lets me see a hoof. > [@statsman1982](#): > > I’ve used the phrase “I told (one of my students) how the cow ate the cabbage” and gotten weird looks from other doctoral students. I’m-a givin’ you a weird look right now. What on earth does that one mean? ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/98 "2009-09-18T18:54:21Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m-a givin’ you a weird look right now. What on earth does that one mean? It means to give someone a stern lecture about something, similar in meaning to “read the riot act”, but less severe. ETA: I searched for the origin of this phrase and found this, although it doesn’t explain why the phrase means what it does. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/99 "2009-09-18T19:00:17Z")
Whoops! Missed the edit window to add the linky: [here.](http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/5/messages/1077.html) ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178/100 "2009-09-18T19:05:03Z")
I’m in Texas. “That dog won’t hunt” is pretty commonly heard around here. I once told a student that something wasn’t a big deal to him because his “ox wasn’t being gored,” and he immediately told me that he didn’t own any livestock. I then asked a number of students if they’d heard the phrase - none had. Only older adults. This was 1998 or so in Central Coast California. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phrases-youd-think-people-would-know/510178.md?page=6)