Lest we Forget. Old Sayings

[j.sabourn]

Early aircraft throttles had a ball on the end of it, in order to go full throttle the pilot had to push the throttle all the way forward into the wall of the instrument panel . " Hence balls to the wall for going very fast ".

During the 2nd ww, US airplanes were armed with belts of ammo , these belts were folded into the wing compartments that fed the guns. They measured 27 feet. Often pilots would return from missions and say " I gave them the whole 9 yards.

The saying " God willing the creek dont rise "was in reference to the Creek Indians and not water. Benjamin Hawkins a politician in the late 18th. century. When requested by the President to return to the capitol .
JS.....

[happy daze john in oz]

My grandmother said if you do not eat your crusts your hair will fall out.
I must admit I am now foliacily challenged.

[j.sabourn]

In the Heyday of sailing ships , all ships that carried cannon , carried their cannon iron balls in a pyramid close to the weapon . To prevent them rolling about the deck , the storage devised was the pyramid with one ball at the top, Thus a supply of 30 balls. to prevent the bottom layer from sliding was a bottom plate called a"monkey" with 16 round indentations .
This plate was made of brass to prevent the iron balls rusting to it . Brass contracts greater and faster when chilled . Consequently when the temperature went too low the indentations would shrink and the iron balls would roll of the monkey. Thus the saying " it was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey." JS

At local taverns and pubs and bars , people drank from pint and quart sized containers .A barmaids job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to keep close attention to who was drinking what in pints and quarts , hence the expression minding your Ps and Qs. JS

[j.sabourn]

#2 Or... you wont get curly hair like your Dad. I can only remember him as nearly bald , which makes me think opposite to Harry that it may be me of Royal Blood. ? JS

[j.sabourn]

Talking as previous about taxes there used to be one on playing cards but only applicablke to the Ace of Spades . To avoid this people would purchase 51 cards. Since most games require 52 , these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they werent playing with a full deck. JS

[j.sabourn]

Ladies wore corsets , which would lace up the front. A proper and dignified woman as in’straight laced’ wore a tightly tied corset. JS

[Keith Tindell]

The saying from when we had that drink from a hangover * the hair of the dog* came from being bitten by a rabid dog, the supposed cure was to put hair from the dog in to the wound.

[James Curry]

Mum you burnt the toast!!!! eat it it will make you a good singer.

[j.sabourn]

#8 A good reply to that one , but today would be null and void , would be will it get me into the Black and White minstrels Mum ? JS

[Louis the fly]

"Sold down the river" came from the slave sales on the quayside in New Orleans.