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. > > > >

Jane, Thanks for sharing the list of old time expressions. Some people might ask what they have to do with family history but the language we use is part of the heritage of culture, both family and ethnic/regional, that has been handed down to us. It is a direct link with those family members we are interested in learning more about. Mary