The language of the 1800s

[the ringo kid]

Hes Short on Sense and Long on Mouth.

 

[the ringo kid]

Does anyone use "two bits", "four bits", etc anymore?

"A shave and a haircut--Two bits." Translated from: Da da da da da----da da." If youve seen any Three Stooges episodes? you will know exactly what im sayin.

I actually do use that when I go for a haircut--always makes the ladies giggle.

Im not sure of the meaning of this sayin but--I heard it date back to the 20s or so. I went into an old house a saw this scrawled on a wall: "Vo de oh do."

 

[the ringo kid]

Look at him run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Eat everything on your plate--think of all the starving kids in China.

Somethings rotten in Denmark.

 

[pineappleshooter]

''I'll be home about dark-thirty.''

.''

Can also be used for early morning, as in "We've been up since Oh Dark Thirty"

 

[THE PILGRIM]

We is leaving early!
How early?
Before the rooster crows or the bugle blows.

 

[the ringo kid]

Hes dead as a doornail.

She is slower than frozen Molasses in Winter.

Dumb as a stick in mud.

Crazy like a Fox.

He needed killin.

 

[Iggy]

The only time I ever saw my Dad come plumb unwound was a day when one of our bulls got through a fence into a neighboring farmers pasture. We had a!ready got the bull out, fixed the fence, and were riding our horses back to where we had unloaded, when the farmer drove up, climbed over the fence onto our side.

He had never fixed fence in his life, but started cussing us out. My Dad put up with him for bit, but he finally had enough. He shook out a loop, spurred his horse, and started after the guy. He yelled "You wrinkle bellied sod bustin' sumbitch!!"

You shoulda seen that plow jockey run. I'll bet he cleared that bobwire fence by three foot.

I had never heard my Dad even raise his voice against another man, and I had never heard that phrase before or since.

I will say this, I think ol Pappy kinda enjoyed letting himself go for a change. He run around with his neck bowed for about 3 days.

 

[rwsmith]

Ken Burn's Civil War

A lot of people were impressed by the beautiful letter home that the soldier sent that said something like, "If you feel a breeze against your cheek, you will know that I am there." People said, "Why don't people talk like that anymore"? I'll tell you why. Because people think it's 'sentimental' and I've been told many time that sentimentality is B.S. plain and simple. You can't convince some people that it may have value in the right place.

Here, this says it better than I can:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNfBdzpG6L4

 

[Cdog]

In the south, the expression "Bless his heart" is used in place of "He's a complete idiot".
For example: "Cousin Ruthie failed ninth grade twice, bless her heart."
_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.

My Cousin uses the "Bless Your Heart" all the time. After I told her the meaning for most of us, she swears she's sincere, but I ain't so sure...

 

[george minze]

Val Kilmers statement "I'm your Huckleberry" I had to look it up. I had never heard it until the Movie..Tombstone....."I'm the Man you are looking for".....Other meanings also.....According to history Doc Holiday was known to use the term...That is according to Mozilla Firefox.....

 

[george minze]

Cuter than a spotted pup under a porch in a rainstorm...That is pretty cute.....

 

[reddogge]

My father used to have some but they were from other eras.

He's as useful as a bump on a log
He's a dull tool
Put the Kaibasch on him.

 

[doublesharp]

seems like I recollect

I'll pawn my honor

We'll be there directly

it's dog days so stay outa the creeks

his eyes are bigger than his belly

I'd like to buy him for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth

don't have no truck with that Jabez bunch

 

[Burnt Beans]

How bout It's hotter than two rats doing it in
a wool sock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rwsmith]

A bushel and a peck

My mother used to say she loved us kids "a bushel and a peck."

And a hug around the neck.

 

[Coldshooter]

My grandmother used the terms "tiny few" which was 3-5 and a "little dozen" for cooking with small eggs.

 

[Biginge]

"Crazy as a road chicken."

"Hes been sparking her a while now."

"He don't know bigwood from brush."

 

[rwsmith]

I guess that range war......

He had never fixed fence in his life, but started cussing us out. My Dad put up with him for bit, but he finally had enough. He shook out a loop, spurred his horse, and started after the guy. He yelled "You wrinkle bellied sod bustin' sumbitch!!"

I guess that range war between the farmers and the ranchers never really got settled, did it?

 

[the ringo kid]

A new Shinola for you.
A pretty good watch, made in Detroit.

I need a new watch as a matter of fact. That one would do nice and would compliment my BSing the neighbors. If anyone called me on a BS? I would just point to the watch and tell them that they dont know **** from Shinola.I wonder what these are priced at?

 

[rwsmith]

If it refers to anything....

My Cousin uses the "Bless Your Heart" all the time. After I told her the meaning for most of us, she swears she's sincere, but I ain't so sure...

There is a 'bless you heart' that is sincere BUT if it refers to anything in somebody that could be described as a character flaw, it ain't sincere. Like:

"Shes' a harpy and a drunk. She doesn't even go to church, bless her heart".

 

[David LaPell]

I have read a lot of letters and books from the 1800's and am thoroughly impressed with how educated most people were for the times. Hollywood and today's entertainment industry does those people such a disservice by portraying them as nothing more than hicks or rubes. After reading a lot of those letters, their handwriting was far better than most today and they had a wonderful grasp of the language. As for me, I recall my grandfather using the term "half a bubble off plumb" a lot. I used the phrase "old hat" to describe something the other day and got a bunch of strange looks. I think we have passed into the realm of the unknown now.

 

[Alpo]

I need a new watch as a matter of fact. That one would do nice and would compliment my BSing the neighbors. If anyone called me on a BS? I would just point to the watch and tell them that they dont know **** from Shinola.I wonder what these are priced at?

I looked 'em up, 'cause I need a new watch, and was wondering if they were mechanical or electrical (never did see where it said).

Between 600 and a grand.
Shinola Watches | Shinola®

 

[ersiii]

I was always on my best behavior around my grandmother who threatened to sic "SoapSally" on us if we misbehaved....

 

[shouldazagged]

"conniption fit"

"just a smidgin"

"Time to swap knives."

"thunder jug"

"Remember the Maine!"

"Went through here like a dose o' salts through a widder woman!"

"Make hay while the sun shines."

"demon rum"

"You may fire when ready, Gridley."

"Fish or cut bait."

"a clod in the churn"

 

[Jack Flash]

I don't know how old this is (I heard it in a cowboy movie) but I always liked:

Don't let your mouth out-talk your hardware.
​

 

[Steely Dan]

Not 1800's but how about 1953?


"Gal reminds me of the highway between Fort Worth and Dallas. No curves"

Foghorn Leghorn

 

[Model 19 6"]

One night fishing from a bridge, 2 drunks told my dad we were on a private bridge. They said we are going to kick you off. My dad took off his glasses, and said I hope you packed a lunch.

 

[the ringo kid]

I have read a lot of letters and books from the 1800's and am thoroughly impressed with how educated most people were for the times. Hollywood and today's entertainment industry does those people such a disservice by portraying them as nothing more than hicks or rubes. After reading a lot of those letters, their handwriting was far better than most today and they had a wonderful grasp of the language. As for me, I recall my grandfather using the term "half a bubble off plumb" a lot. I used the phrase "old hat" to describe something the other day and got a bunch of strange looks. I think we have passed into the realm of the unknown now.

Now days, you can find in the new printing of the Oxford Dictionary--words that Wrappers used in their music.I heard 4-5 recently--and none will ever be a part or my vocabulary.

 

[the ringo kid]

I looked 'em up, 'cause I need a new watch, and was wondering if they were mechanical or electrical (never did see where it said).

Between 600 and a grand.
Shinola Watches | Shinola®

Danke amigo, I need one of these to go with my "character." I do need a new watch. Im also wondering what the Benrus and Philippe Pateks are also going for?

 

[BigBill]

Grandpa didn't drink coffee he drank a raw egg in vermouth for breakfast every morning the breakfast of champions.

Grandma's switch was any detachable power cord. She gave out woopings like popcorn popped.