Grandma
Used to have lots of cliches. She often described my frugality as saying, "Daniel, you are tight as bark on tree."
When we were late for dinner she would say (while she was already eating,) "We waited for you like one hog waits for another."
Here are some others...
When we were late for dinner she would say (while she was already eating,) "We waited for you like one hog waits for another."
Here are some others...
- You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
- Look at the pot who is calling the kettle black.
- Take good neighbor, find good neighbor.
- You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
- Many hands make light work.
- Tighter than bark on tree (reference to frugality.)
Reader Submissions:
- No bad news is good news.
- No good news is bad news.
- No news is good news.
- Pushing your luck
- 24/7
- Whatsa Matta canoe? (As in: Why the frown? Whatsa Matta canoe?)
- What goes around comes around.
- That's the way the cookie crumbles. (Means it's too bad something did not go your way)
- Cream always rises to the top. (submitted by Cathie Summerour)
Reader Question:
Andrew S. Writes: How do I avoid using a cliche?
Answer:
Think about what you really want to say. Say it a straightforward manner rather than using a cliche. For example if you meet someone who is "Tighter than bark on tree" and you want to describe them without using that cliche, then describe an actual event where you observed the frugality of the person (they used coupons, for example.) If you want to sound more creative you can try synonyms and rearrange the words. For example, "Open the kimono" becomes “A peek under the peignoir”. Thank you for writing.
Andrew S. Writes: How do I avoid using a cliche?
Answer:
Think about what you really want to say. Say it a straightforward manner rather than using a cliche. For example if you meet someone who is "Tighter than bark on tree" and you want to describe them without using that cliche, then describe an actual event where you observed the frugality of the person (they used coupons, for example.) If you want to sound more creative you can try synonyms and rearrange the words. For example, "Open the kimono" becomes “A peek under the peignoir”. Thank you for writing.
Custom Research:
A Mortal Lock :
The term is a modification of the term, lock or wrestling hold, which is used to describe a guaranteed winner in sports betting. It is also a wrestling hold popularized about 60 years ago in the 1950’s.
The use of this term is introduced by (associated with) an online gambling/sports betting service. The poster with the signature: Richkas, used the wrestling term to gain attention for his sports gambling picks. There is very little support for any answer other than this one. More research if you have it would be appreciated. The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. supports that it was used with gambling as early as the 50’s but gives no examples or citation of the original usage.
Due to the fact that his mortal locks (in betting) are no better than a coin flip, the term is usually used as a comical modifier for sports gambling picks. Therefore the definition is a term to describe a bet that is virtually guaranteed winner, but in reality it is just a coin flip.
A Mortal Lock :
The term is a modification of the term, lock or wrestling hold, which is used to describe a guaranteed winner in sports betting. It is also a wrestling hold popularized about 60 years ago in the 1950’s.
The use of this term is introduced by (associated with) an online gambling/sports betting service. The poster with the signature: Richkas, used the wrestling term to gain attention for his sports gambling picks. There is very little support for any answer other than this one. More research if you have it would be appreciated. The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D. supports that it was used with gambling as early as the 50’s but gives no examples or citation of the original usage.
Due to the fact that his mortal locks (in betting) are no better than a coin flip, the term is usually used as a comical modifier for sports gambling picks. Therefore the definition is a term to describe a bet that is virtually guaranteed winner, but in reality it is just a coin flip.