A more recent example is “putting on the dog”, which I thought was unique to Aussie Lingo, actually came from the Deep South of America during the Civil War but that these days most of the people coming from there would not know what it meant. We Aussies pinch things and claim them as ours while the originators have got a life and left them behind. You know like Russell Crowe.
Sometimes literal translations can lead you astray. I couldn’t understand why you were taken with a “crunchy gentleman” when I thought that a carved ham and cheese slices sarnie covered with a white sauce made from milk, flour, butter, salt, and pepper and baked in the oven until golden and bubbling, would have been more your style.
But don’t take any notice of what I have been saying because it is all a crock. No, I have not been puffing any magic mushrooms.
Hi Jack
What a funny and interesting post. Brilliant
I always thought Russell Crowe was one of yours
I have never come across the expression "putting on the dog". I did wonder if it was similar to "all done up like a dog's dinner" but having consulted the fickle Ms Google I don't think so. We also have an expression "to make a dog's breakfast (or dinner) of it" For example if I cocked up my rebus you'd be saying I made a real dog's breakfast of it
My crunchy gentleman is normally little more than glorified toasted cheese and ham sarnie. If you have an egg on it it's a crunchy lady
A word we both have in common with different meanings is 'buggerlugs'. I though it originated in Yorkshire but, according to she who mustn't be mentioned, it comes from across the pond.
My rebus today is a poem from the nineteenth century.
#4 5 #3 #5
You need the last three letters of the first name of the lady in picture one and then jiggle them around a bit. Please also re-arrange the letters of picture two. Position is of the utmost importance.
One night a husband and wife were sleeping and suddenly the wife woke up. She pokes her husband and says...
Darling, wake up! I think there’s a burglar downstairs, and it sounds like they're eating the cake I made!”
Half asleep, her husband opens one eye and answers, "So shall I call the police or an ambulance?”
That's it from me. Am in need of a cuppa