May 24, 2009

  • Food for thought?

    I listen to a show on NPR called A Way With Words.  Today someone who was on the show asked about the use of the phrase "the wreck of the Hesperus".  He said his mom and aunt would describe a mess as the wreck of the Hesperus. 

    So, as I was driving along, I started to think about phrases people use to express their intent to confront someone.  (In the interests of simplicity and since I have sons, I'm going to use the male gender as my reference.)

    "I'm going to tell him how the cow ate the cabbage!"

    "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."

    "I'm going to chew him up one side and down the other."

    "His *ss is grass and I'm the lawnmower."

    "I'm going to read him the riot act."

    "I'm going to give him an ear full."

    "I'm going to give him what for."

    Any other examples you can think of?  I was trying to remember more, and drew a blank.