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Theresa Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001 Posts: 27256 Location: United States of America
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Sun May 27, 2007 11:10 pm Odd sayings |
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Someone was recently complaining about the following saying:
Quote: | "Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too"
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The complaint was "why would you want to have cake if you couldn't eat it?" I had quite a difficult time explaining to them that that's not really what was being said.
What other sayings do you know of that just seem to make no sense?
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Thomas Pool Princess
Joined: 08 Jul 2001 Posts: 19730 Location: Manchester
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Mon May 28, 2007 3:40 am |
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I noticed that in the UK we say "I couldn't care less," whereas in the US you tend (I think) to say "I could care less." Your way just doesn't make sense to me, unless it's supposed to be completely sarcastic or something,
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Gloss rhymes with hair!
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lionhead Rear Admiral
Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 4020 Location: The Delta Quadrant (or not...)
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Mon May 28, 2007 9:12 am |
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I know a Dutch saying i never figured out:
"een ezel stoot zich niet twee keer aan dezelfde steen."
translation: "a donkey won't bump into the same stone twice"
It means: Its very stupid to make the same mistake twice(i'm sure you english people have a saying for that too). the saying tells you are a donkey if you do make the same mistake twice.
But, if a donkey DOESN'T bump into the same stone twice then how come you are a donkey if you do? Accoring to the saying you are a donkey if you DON'T make the same mistake twice.
Shouldn't the saying actually say: "only a donkey will bump into the same stone twice" or "not even a donkey will bump into the same stone twice"
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Never explain comedy or satire or the ironic comment. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't, never will. -Michael Moore
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squiggy Stooge Two
Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Posts: 3007 Location: Messing with the fabric of Video Game realities. I'll summon Shiva on you! I SWEAR!
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Mon May 28, 2007 12:06 pm |
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"Please wait while I put you on hold."
Umm... okay then. I have to wait WHILE you are putting me on hold? Is this process especially time consuming?
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Theresa Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001 Posts: 27256 Location: United States of America
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Mon May 28, 2007 2:11 pm |
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Thomas wrote: | I noticed that in the UK we say "I couldn't care less," whereas in the US you tend (I think) to say "I could care less." Your way just doesn't make sense to me, unless it's supposed to be completely sarcastic or something, |
Huh, I've never heard "I could care less" before. I often tell people I couldn't possibly care less, (I have said, however, 'I could give a *beep*', )
A weird one I've heard; "who gives a rat's ass?" Seriously, where'd that come from?
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Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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TrekkieMage Office Junkie
Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 5335 Location: Hiding
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Mon May 28, 2007 2:37 pm |
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The rat one is weird. Never really thought about that before...Along the same lines: I don't give a damn. Huh?
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Starbuck faster...
Joined: 19 Feb 2003 Posts: 8715 Location: between chaos and melody
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Mon May 28, 2007 5:22 pm |
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my dad says "you don't have enough lead in your ass to spring a rat trap". I know what he's trying to say, but I have no idea what thats supposed to mean.
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Debra Sweetest Angel
Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 444
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Mon May 28, 2007 5:29 pm |
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get em done is so odd to me. larry the cable guy says that and it makes us southerners look bad. So I say get em done is odd.
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squiggy Stooge Two
Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Posts: 3007 Location: Messing with the fabric of Video Game realities. I'll summon Shiva on you! I SWEAR!
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Mon May 28, 2007 5:41 pm |
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"Who gives a rat's ass"
-Rats are considered a plague or vermin, therefore as they are useless, thier ass would be more useless still.
--Exception: Biological engineers have great uses for rats and thier asses.
"You don't have enough lead in your ass to set off a mouse trap"
-Variation of "You don't have enough BRASS in your ass...", Brass defined as gall or courage, however, as it is also a metalic substance, if you don't have enough... you might not be heavy enough to set off the trap.
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La Forge Bajoran Colonel
Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 2125 Location: Babylon 5
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Mon May 28, 2007 9:31 pm |
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Here's a saying that's not hard to understand, but, I think that its just...stupid.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?"
Its stupid. You just asked them something, so, what was the point of asking if you can ask a question when you just asked the question in order to ask a question.
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You'll never hear me say this again in my life, but...
Go Red Sox!
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robbiewebster Rear Admiral
Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 2594 Location: Rochester, New York
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Mon May 28, 2007 9:46 pm |
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Thomas wrote: | I noticed that in the UK we say "I couldn't care less," whereas in the US you tend (I think) to say "I could care less." Your way just doesn't make sense to me, unless it's supposed to be completely sarcastic or something, |
I think sometimes people do say 'i could care less' even though it doesn't make sense. They mean the same thing they're just saying it fast so it comes out that way. I think I've probably said it like that too.
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Sam Kenobi Not a Duke
Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 10373 Location: The 'Verse
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Mon May 28, 2007 11:55 pm |
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I never heard this one until I went to school in the Mid-West
"you suck at life"
1) that's like... the freakin' meanest thing you can say. how rude, to tell someone they suck at living?! what kind of superiority complex/ messed up kind of person do you have to be to let that come out of your mouth?
2) "you suck" is ok. but "at life...." seriously. what kind of dumb freak says that? I will cuss and yell at people, but WHO THINKS IT"S OK to tell someone that they "suck" at simply being? for real...
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TrekkieMage Office Junkie
Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 5335 Location: Hiding
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Tue May 29, 2007 12:43 am |
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Every time I've said "you suck at life" or "I suck at life" it's been entirely in jest, and hopefully it comes across as such. I can't imagine anyone using it as an insult o.O
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Sam Kenobi Not a Duke
Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 10373 Location: The 'Verse
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Tue May 29, 2007 1:03 am |
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even in jest, I think it's an awful awful thing to say. both of them. it's not funny, it's really stupid and in my mind it shows a bit of... i don't know, unintelligence? To even "jokingly" (and the fact that it's a "joke" just goes to show something a bit deeper) insult someone's or oneself's being... that's really messed up. Really really messed up. I say a lot of mean *beep* to people, but never that.
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Sam Kenobi Not a Duke
Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 10373 Location: The 'Verse
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Tue May 29, 2007 1:04 am |
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and you're cool, TM, don't take it personally. I just have a bad history with that saying. I hate it. a lot.
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lionhead Rear Admiral
Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 4020 Location: The Delta Quadrant (or not...)
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Tue May 29, 2007 4:24 am |
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La Forge wrote: | Here's a saying that's not hard to understand, but, I think that its just...stupid.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?"
Its stupid. You just asked them something, so, what was the point of asking if you can ask a question when you just asked the question in order to ask a question. |
thats so true
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Never explain comedy or satire or the ironic comment. Those who get it, get it. Those who don't, never will. -Michael Moore
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Thomas Pool Princess
Joined: 08 Jul 2001 Posts: 19730 Location: Manchester
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Tue May 29, 2007 5:22 am |
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robbiewebster wrote: | Thomas wrote: | I noticed that in the UK we say "I couldn't care less," whereas in the US you tend (I think) to say "I could care less." Your way just doesn't make sense to me, unless it's supposed to be completely sarcastic or something, |
I think sometimes people do say 'i could care less' even though it doesn't make sense. They mean the same thing they're just saying it fast so it comes out that way. I think I've probably said it like that too. |
Yeah, I thought it was just a mistake the first time I saw it, but then I saw it again somewhere else and I began to wonder (sad, I know). Then I read it in an American book and thought that must just be the way it's said over there.
This website I just found seems to explain it pretty well.
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Gloss rhymes with hair!
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Theresa Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001 Posts: 27256 Location: United States of America
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Tue May 29, 2007 5:42 pm |
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Thomas wrote: |
This website I just found seems to explain it pretty well. |
You're weird.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Valathous The Canadian, eh
Joined: 31 Aug 2002 Posts: 19074 Location: Centre Bell
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Tue May 29, 2007 11:12 pm |
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"I don't give three s***s from Sunday"
"I don't give five f***s from Friday"
AKA, "I could(n't) care less" / "I don't give a (insert whatever explitive suits your mood)"
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Lord Borg Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 11214 Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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Tue May 29, 2007 11:55 pm |
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An alterations to Dan, is "Do you think I give a (Whatever word you want here)!?"
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When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
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Jeanna Ensign, Junior Grade
Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Illinois
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Wed May 30, 2007 3:45 am |
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one i get a kick out of is *money doesn't grow on tree's* well duh anyone who has any brains knows that *L* and another one is
*When Pigs fly* why not just say never? as obiviously pig's can't fly
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Hitchhiker Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 3514 Location: Ontario, Canada
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Wed May 30, 2007 6:57 am |
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What I'd like to know is why a monkey's uncle is any more significant than the monkey in question itself...?
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Seven of Nine Sammie's Mammy
Joined: 16 Jun 2001 Posts: 7871 Location: North East England
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Thu May 31, 2007 7:12 am |
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"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth" (or variations on that).
I had to get my social worker to explain that one to me
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harrykims#1fan Fan Girl Muskateer
Joined: 08 Feb 2002 Posts: 2916 Location: Leicester UK
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:41 pm |
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"I'll tell you somethin for free..." why should it normally cost?
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tomparis Stooge Three
Joined: 25 Jun 2001 Posts: 5964 Location: At your computer, hacking your files.
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Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:49 pm |
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"Same difference."
Man, I hate it when people say that. It makes no sense. It's also very annoying.
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tomparis: The artist formerly known as the "Forum Nerd."
99.9% sure I'm not a zombie.
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