When I was flying, I heard ‘Tally-ho’ frequently enough. ATC would advise of traffic, and often the pilot addressed would respond, ‘[Call sign], tally-ho on the [aircraft]’ when he spots it.
e.g.,
ATC: Cessna Zero-One-Uniform, traffic, Piper, one-o’clock low, three miles.
01U: Zero-One-Uniform, tally-ho on the Piper.
(Incidentally, flying is just about the only place in the U.S. where I hear G’day. Only instead of being a greeting, it’s a sign-off. ‘Zero-One-Uniform, frequency change approved. G’day.’)
Interesting given it’s strong association with British English. We don’t say it over here in Australia and it’s something I associate with RAF WWII fighter pilots. On the other hand “g’day” is very Australian. Could be that you guys were saying “good day” so much that it became shortened independently, or maybe the phrase was imported to the states by international pilots.
Edit: I’m familiar with the bee’s knees, the duck’s nuts, and the cat’s whiskers and sometimes I feel like I’m being nibbled to death by ducks.
On the other hand “g’day” is very Australian. Could be that you guys were saying “good day” so much that it became shortened independently, or maybe the phrase was imported to the states by international pilots.
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Probably just shortening through use. It’s been in use since at least the early-mid-'70s when I encountered it in one of dad’s Flying magazines; specifically, a humour article wondering how WWII might have turned out had the FAA been defending Pearl Harbor – Japan 00, Are You Declaring An Emergency? Since it was used in the piece, it’s reasonable to assume that it had been in use for a long time.
One that always bothered me was “two bits” in reference to the price of something. I went to buy something when I was a kid (mid-80s) and an older guy told me it was “two bits.” I was extremely confused. What the hell did that mean?
Recently my youngest son asked me to compile a list of sayings that I heard as a kid from my Dad and Grandma, who were both country folk from the Ozarks of Arkansas. This is the list of phrases from about 1948 to 1960.
What in the Sam Hill are you doin’
Now that’s good eatin’
Now, just hang on. I’m fixin’ to take care of it.
He looked awful – like he was rode hard and put away wet.
That thang’s ‘bout as useful as teats on a boar hog.
I’m hungry enough to eat the south end of a north bound skunk. (or a horse)
Madder than a wet hen.
He’s ‘bout knee high to a grasshopper.
Can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
I got no dog in this fight.
Full as a tick.
Set a spell
Let me spell ya for a minute
Don’t rush on my account
That ain’t right
Fry up a mess
‘Fixin’ to do somethin’
I’m too pooped to pop.
I’m worn to a frazzle.
It’s so noisy in here, I can’t hear myself think.
If y’all don’t quit that fightin’, I’m gonna whip you so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week."…with many variations.
It came a real gully-washer last night.
Pretty as a speckled pup.
Cute as a bug’s ear.
He doesn’t know his butt from a hole in the ground.
You’re gettin’ just a little bit too big for your britches – I may have to take you down a notch or two.
Don’t just sit there like a bump on a log.
I’m feeling fair to middlin’.
I’ll swan, that water is the best…
He’s crazy as all get out!
You’d better straighten up and fly right.
Gimme just a scooch more.
That dog just won’t hunt!
Look at that long tall drink of water.
Can’t carry a tune in a bucket.
I haven’t seen one of them in a month of Sundays!
Come here, Burrhead.
That’s a tough row to hoe.
Just ‘cause a chicken’s got wings, don’t mean it can fly.
There is more than one way to skin a cat.
You guys have more apples than Carter’s got pills!
You guys have more apples than Wixie has turnips (Only from my Dad)
He ain’t got a pot to piss in.
He’s crazier than a June bug.
It’s goin’ to hell in a handbasket.
She was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
Three hairs past a freckle. (Telling time)
You don’t know ____ from Shinola.
All tuckered out.
You said your piece, now I want to say mine!
Madder than a wet hen.
I’ll knock you into the middle of next week!
A wing and a prayer.
Mad enough to bite nails
Fightin’ mad and Spittin’ mad.
So mad I could spit.
Living high on the hog.
Root hog or die.
He’s too “sorry” to work.
You haven’t got the sense God gave a rock.
I don’t give two hoots and a holler.
Looks like two possums in a tater sack.
It’s right hot outside.
‘Pert nere’.
Bless your pea-pickin’ heart!
Crooked as a dog’s hind leg.
Beat with an ugly stick.
Petered out.
For all the tea in China.
He’s about as sharp as a marble.
Not playing with a full deck.
Busier than a one-legged man at a butt kicking contest.
Don’t get your panties in a uproar.
He’s slower than molasses in January.
That battery is deader than a door nail.
I’m a’fixin’ to go get me a bite to eat.
That sidewalk is slicker than snot on a doorknob.
If you don’t stop that crying, I’ll give you something to cry about!
That wall is all catywampus.
Act like you got some raising.
You’re the spitting image of your mother/father.
Sunday go-to-meetin’ clothes.
Fish or cut bait.
She’s a tall drink of water.
You’re diggin your own grave.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
Grinnin’ like a possum eatin’ corn.
He’s as happy as if he had good sense.
‘Nough to gag a maggot.
The land of milk & honey…
high falutin’.
Haven’t seen you in a coon’s age!
I need to see a man about a dog. Or horse.
Shake a leg!
She’s right smart.
playing possum.
In all my born days.
You little cotton-picker!
You must not be holdin’ your mouth right.
He would complain if he was hung with a new rope.
Took off like a ruptured duck.
Full as a tick,
No flies on him.
Air’s a good’un.
I’m gonna tan your hide.
Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.
Puffed up like a banty rooster.
Sunday-go-to-meetin’ shoes.
Set yourself down a spell.
Every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Can’t get blood from a turnip,
Your neck of the woods.
Gone to hell in a hand basket.
Rougher than a cob.
I’ll pessle the water out of him.
BTW, pessle - pestle. My Dad used this as an expression of the hurt he was going to cause someone. He actually was a very kind man, but equally expressive.
I’ve had to explain the concept of having something or some quality “in spades.” Everyone assumes I’m talking about a card game.
I also have had to explain the meaning of a “come-to-Jesus talk” (it’s nothing to do with Christian witnessing). Luckily, there have been only a handful of folks for whom I’ve had to break that down.
So… is “caught short” meaning pregnant (and unmarried) old fashioned or a regionalism? It’s in the dictionary, but you don’t hear it often, which makes me wonder… I used it in a story, but will readers know what it means?
I’ve never heard it, but then my Gramma always said “the first baby always seems to come early, but the second takes the full 9 months.”
Mama’s baby, Daddy’s maybe.
Sunstone:
I use a disturbing amount of those phrases. None of which sprang to mind while reading this thread. When folks ask me how I’m doing, I respond “bright eyed and bushy tailed.” I use phrases like cupcake, “sock it to me,” “getting my ducks in a row,” Sport, “if you’re feeling froggy.”
I recently heard the phrase “no bigger than a minute” and declared it my new favorite. Of course, I’m slap in the middle of BFE where there is a shitload of folks that I can’t verify are actually speaking english, so I’m likely to find more.
I know most of the ones here so far, and my husband uses that one quite regularly.
I use “Cheese it guys, it’s the cops!” all the time, usually when an authority figure comes by, but I don’t even know where I picked it up. Probably an old 30’s gangster movie. People look at me weird.
