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| Anybody know the origins of these sayings? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 9 2009, 11:23 AM (2,605 Views) | |
| History Hunter | Nov 9 2009, 11:23 AM Post #1 |
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I've often wondered the meaning of these sayings ... You've got more shoes than soft Mick - who or what was soft Mick? You've got more shoes than you can shake a stick at - why would I want to shake a stick at my shoes!? I think they are more widespread sayings but I'd still like to know. |
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| History Hunter | Nov 17 2009, 12:37 PM Post #2 |
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I've donea bit of digging (google ) and it seems that 'Mick' was an old slang term for an Irishman so it might be referring to a not too clever Irishman. Not very politically correct today but would make sense. |
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| james | Nov 17 2009, 04:06 PM Post #3 |
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Knight
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Hi,H.H., I think "Mick" was a term appllied to a "Bog" Irishman i.e., one who lived in the country a farm labourer,country bumpkin,ect; "Soft Mick" some one who was "A bit Behind't Door" (another local saying) when they were handing out brains, Dont know about the shoes. |
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| james | Nov 17 2009, 04:06 PM Post #4 |
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Knight
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Hi,H.H., I think "Mick" was a term appllied to a "Bog" Irishman i.e., one who lived in the country a farm labourer,country bumpkin,ect; "Soft Mick" some one who was "A bit Behind't Door" (another local saying) when they were handing out brains, Dont know about the shoes. |
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| Jon | Nov 18 2009, 07:52 PM Post #5 |
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Peasant
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The trouble with old sayings is it is extremely difficult to trace it back to the original source. Having said that here are a few ideas. “you can shake a stick at” first recorded written usage was by Davey Crockett in the mid 19 century. It’s meaning was to raise a challenge at somebody or something. Latter this became “more then shake a stick at” the meaning being no matter what the challenge is we are more then a match for it. The “soft Mick” is easier to pin point the meaning to an Irish shoe peddler working around or in east Lancashire in the 19th century and is most common in northern England. |
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| Picture Fixer | Nov 18 2009, 08:54 PM Post #6 |
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Peasant
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Some saying that i remember my parents saying are, Panned out, meaning tired worn out. but it originated from gold prospecting when a stream or river had no more gold or minerals in it and "It was panned out." Another was not enough room to swing a cat, refering to a small room this came from the old sailing ships not enough room to swing a cat o nine tails ( a whip) below decks as the space below decks was to cramped. |
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| james | Nov 18 2009, 11:06 PM Post #7 |
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Knight
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Heres a local saying " Fair Pow fact'd " has two meanings weary, or Daffled |
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| james | Nov 18 2009, 11:18 PM Post #8 |
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Knight
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"3 sheets in the wind"(Sheets sails)nautical term local to Fleetwood trawlermen. Means drunk or not all there |
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| wyrearchaeology | Nov 19 2009, 12:41 AM Post #9 |
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Knight
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'Codhead' -- Thick people from Fleetwood who behave like skanks. (Er...that doesn't apply to everyone in Fleetwood, of course. Just the codheads themselves.) |
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| james | Nov 19 2009, 01:07 AM Post #10 |
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Knight
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Cod End, the bottom open end of a trawler fishing net tied with a special knot by the bosun Tagel bag, an average trawler catch/. |
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) and it seems that 'Mick' was an old slang term for an Irishman so it might be referring to a not too clever Irishman. Not very politically correct today but would make sense.