# "Pissing In Paris" -- The Colloquialism Game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 8, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693 "2011-02-08T21:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/141 "2011-03-03T13:51:48Z")
Spaying the Shih Tzu: Engaging in a difficult, intricate task which, while necessary, will probably never actually be used. (Shih Tzus are, after all, usually indoor dogs, unlikely to be outside unsupervised.) “Gilding the onion.” ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/142 "2011-03-03T15:13:56Z")
Going to great lengths to play a practical joke. Just blink it away ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/143 "2011-03-03T15:29:00Z")
Just blink it away: use “magic” to solve a problem, as in “he’s got diabetes, but instead of controlling his diet, he’s going to try to blink it away.” (Reference to the old TV show _Bewitched_ - “twitching his nose at it” would work the same way.) “Throw to shortstop.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/144 "2011-03-03T17:23:01Z")
To help the team by doing what’s expected of you under the circumstances. “When Tim saw that Jenny was really coming onto me, he should’ve left us alone. Why didn’t he throw to the shortstop?” Setting the rebar. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/145 "2011-03-03T19:14:26Z")
Setting the rebar - actions taken now that may pay off later. “Sure, Joe did all those favors for Lauren. He was setting the rebar for when he makes his move!” Pointing out the North Star. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/146 "2011-03-03T19:18:14Z")
Trying to create order out of total chaos. “Obama went down to New Orleans and spent his time pointing out the north star.” Waiting for the deaf one to listen. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/147 "2011-03-03T20:02:17Z")
Believing in an outcome that will never happen. Ladling the stew ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/148 "2011-03-03T20:55:44Z")
Ladling the stew: distributing patronage. "Now that he’s won the mayoralty, he’s ladling the stew to all his major donors. “Rubbing his elbow.” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/149 "2011-03-03T21:10:14Z")
Doing something completely useless and harmless and unnecessary because you can’t decide what course to take that would be useful or helpful. “Dancing with your Great-Aunt Lucy” ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/150 "2011-03-04T00:13:37Z")
Dancing with your Great-Aunt Lucy: Doing something personally uncomfortable or unpleasant for the comfort of a friend or family member–“He didn’t want to go to the party, but his sister was going, and he was afraid her ex-boyfriend would make trouble. Sometimes you just have to dance with your Great-Aunt Lucy.” “Brewing green beer” ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/151 "2011-03-04T01:46:13Z")
“brewing green beer” - making an all-in short term investment. “Bagging the weeds” ---
**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:** [March 4, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/152 "2011-03-04T14:35:10Z")
Pretending to do something innocent while doing something guilty. “I’m just bagging the weeds” could either mean bagging unwanted plants or bagging marijuana. Doing the sheen shinney. ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/153 "2011-03-04T14:57:29Z")
Loudly proclaiming one’s greatness while the all other onlookers are staring at your train wreck. Lighting the volcano ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/154 "2011-03-04T15:03:23Z")
Lighting the volcano: performing useless work rather than the stuff one ought to be doing: “I needed Terry to be getting that report ready, but no, he’s off lighting the volcano for pointy-haired manager!” “Watching The Brady Bunch.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/155 "2011-03-04T20:46:39Z")
Goofing off, but not even doing it with any sense of taste. “I really needed Erica to help me with the February numbers, but she was too busy texting a friend about her hot date last night. She might as well’ve been watching _The Brady Bunch_.” Tipping the milkman. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/156 "2011-03-04T20:52:51Z")
Tipping the milkman - doing something no one does anymore. “Matt was so polite last night; every time a woman passed by, he doffed his hat to her. He’s been tipping the milkman lately!” Filling the water pistol. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/157 "2011-03-05T13:50:18Z")
Filling the water pistol: plotting or preparing to extract thorough but harmless vengeance on a fairly close friend or associate. “Mark had better watch out now that he made sure Victoria got stuck with the Vernon report; she’s filling the water pistol as we speak!” Along the lines of the OP: “Boating in Budapest.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/158 "2011-03-05T19:46:31Z")
Going a long way to do something nobody really wants to do. “Annette drove from L.A. to Toronto just to get a bikini wax. Talk about boating in Budapest!” Fiddling with Omar. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/159 "2011-03-07T18:13:13Z")
“Did you hear about Paul Reubens? He got caught fiddling with Omar in a movie theater; yeah, his days as a child entertainer are over.” Installing a pod ---
**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:** [March 7, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693/160 "2011-03-07T18:20:04Z")
“I can never remember your name. I guess I have to install a pod in my brain for it.” Tickling the negativity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pissing-in-paris-the-colloquialism-game/570693.md?page=9)