
Slang itself has really been well documented recently by Urban Dictionary. Which makes my word nerd book dated. But, I don't care, I like using dated language. It'll all come back around.
The thing is, we use phrases all the time that are dated. The top two I can thing of are, "Hang up the phone" and "Roll down the window". These really should be, "End the call" and "Open the window". But we are, how shall I say...stuck in a rut?
See what I did there? Used a phrase that is believed to come from the idea that wagon wheels would get stuck in the ruts made by previous wagon wheels. Forcing the wagon to run on a predetermined course.
Here are some other of my favorites.
"Close, but no cigar."
This saying refers to the practice of giving cigars as prizes at carnivals in the US during the 19th century.
"See you on the flip side."
This is a very obscure comparative to flipping a record to the B side.
"Bite the bullet."
There was no time to administer anaesthesia
before emergency surgery during battle. The surgeon made patients bite
down on a bullet in an attempt to distract them from the pain.
"Butter someone up."
Another obscure comparative to when ancient Indians would butter statues of God's to obtain favour.
"Go the whole nine yards."
World War II Fighter pilots received a 9-yard chain of ammunition. Therefore, when a pilot used all of his ammunition on one target, he gave it “the whole nine yards.”
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