This came to me on another list and I thought I would share it with you. Jane Foley NC > How Many Can You Remember? > > Some of you young whippersnappers, probably never heard a lot of > theses...(grin) > > A Lick And A Promise > > By Pamela Perry Blaine > > Ill just give this a lick and a promise, my mother said as she > quickly > mopped up a spill on the floor without moving any of the furniture. > > What is that supposed to mean, I asked as in my young mind I > envisioned someone licking the floor with his or her tongue. It means that > I'm in a hurry and I'm busy canning tomatoes so I am going to just give it > a > lick with the mop and promise to come back and do the job right later. > > A lick and a promise was just one of the many old phrases that I > remember my mother, grandma, and others using that they probably heard > from > the generations before them. With the passing of time, many old phrases > become obsolete or even disappear.This is unfortunate because some of > themare very appropriate and humorous. Here is a list that I came up with > that I remember my parents and grandparents using, some that we don't hear > much anymore. Perhaps you have some memorable old phrases of your own > that > you could add to the list before forwarding: > > A Bone to Pick (someone who wants to discuss a disagreement) > > An Axe to Grind (Someone who has a hidden motive.This phrase is said > to have originated from Benjamin Franklin who told a story about a devious > man who asked how a grinding wheel worked. He ended up walking away with > his axe sharpened free of charge) > > A bad apple spoils the whole barrel (one corrupt person can cause all > the others to go bad if you don't remove the bad one) > > At sea (lost or not understanding something) > > Bad Egg (Someone who was not a good person) > > Barking at a knot (meaning that your efforts were as useless as a dog > barking at a knot.) > > Bee in your bonnet (To have an idea that won't let loose) > > Been thrugh the mill (had a rough time of it) > > Between hay and grass (Not a child or an adult) > > Blinky (Between sweet and sour, as in milk) > > Calaboose (a jail) > > Cattywampus (Something that sits crooked such as a chair sitting at > an angle) > > Dicker (To barter or trade) > > Feather In Your Cap (to accomplish a goal. This came from years ago > in > wartime when warriors might receive a feather they would put in their cap > for defeating an enemy) > > Hold your horses (Be patient!) > > I reckon (I suppose) > > Jawing (Talking or arguing) > > Kit and caboodle (The whole thing) > > Madder than an old wet hen (really angry) > > Needs taken down a notch or two (like notches in a belt. Usually a > young person who thinks too highly of himself and needs a lesson) > > No Spring Chicken (Not young anymore) > > Persnickety (overly particular or snobbish) > > Pert-near (short for pretty near) > > Pretty is as pretty does (your actions are more important han your > looks) > > Scalawag (a rascal or unprincipled person) > > Scarce as hens teeth (something difficult to obtain) > > Skedaddle (Get out of here quickly) > > Sparking (courting) > > Straight From the Horses Mouth (privileged information from the one > concerned) > > Stringing around, gallivanting around, or piddling (Not doing > anything > of value) > > Sunday go to meetin' dress (The best dress you have, your church > dress) > > We wash up real fine, cleans up real good (is another goodie.) > > Tie the Knot (to get married) > > Too many irons in the fire (to be involved in too many things) > > Tuckered out (tired and all worn out) > > Under the weather (not feeling well. This term came from going below > deck on ships due to sea sickness thus you go below or under the weather) > > Wearing your best bib and tucker (Being all dressed up) > > You ain't the only duck in the pond (Its not all about you) > > Well, if you hold your horses, I reckn Ill get this whole kit and > caboodle done and sent off to you. Please don't be too persnickety and get > a > bee in your bonnet because I've been pretty tuckered out and at sea lately > because I'm no spring chicken. I haven't been just stringin' around and I > know I'm not the only duck in the pond, but I do have too many irons in > the > fire. I might just be barking at a knot, but I have tried to give this > article more than just a lick and a promise. > > > >