Uncovering the Hidden Treasures of Dead Metaphors

[Mk]

This thread is here to point out the great, yet underated dead metaphors in the English language... A ''dead metaphor'' is a metaphor that through overuse has lost figurative value.

Like understand, mantel, running out of time, grasping an idea...

I'll think'a some more...

 

[BobG]

Good idea, Mk. Just be sure you give it the whole nine yards!

On second thought, no one seems to care about this topic. People aren't exactly going balls to the wall in rushing to post here.

Probably afraid someone will respond to their post by going postal (okay, most probably know what this means, but it will soon join those other sayings where you had to be there to understand how the saying came about).

My favorite saying (regardless of dead or living metaphor):

Don't try to teach your grandma to suck eggs.

 

[brewnog]

Surely "running out of time" is as alive as it ever has been?

Anyway, "Going postal"? What's that all about?

 

[Gale]

Surely "running out of time" is as alive as it ever has been?

Anyway, "Going postal"? What's that all about?

It referes to when postal workers would go kinda nuts and carry around bombs wrapped as mail, then threaten people and stuff. So it means to act kinda crazy... least that's what i knew it to mean.
how about... i didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday... that's really overkill at my house..

 

[brewnog]

Wow, you have some pretty crazy postmen. They should just keep their shirts on.

 

[loseyourname]

Wow, you have some pretty crazy postmen. They should just keep their shirts on.

The US Postal Service is notorious for being an extremely stressful and demanding workplace. In the mid-90's, there were a series of incidents in which recently laid-off postal workers came back to work with guns and mass murder ensued. Ever since, "going postal" has been synonymous with the act of snapping under the weight of that last straw and flipping out (though not necessarily becoming murderous).

 

[BobG]

It referes to when postal workers would go kinda nuts and carry around bombs wrapped as mail, then threaten people and stuff. So it means to act kinda crazy... least that's what i knew it to mean.
how about... i didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday... that's really overkill at my house..

See, its roots are already becoming obscure. It refers to violence in the workplace. There were a couple incidents where postal employees went over the edge and shot their boss and/or coworkers. The incidents happened pretty close together, hence coining a new term for going violently insane.

(Interestingly, my workplaces's firewall won't let me search for 'postal employees' and 'workplace violence' in the same search. Great, I've probably triggered some alarm that will result in me being constantly monitored for signs of instability.)

Another fairly recent metaphor that will wind up in this category:

"Houston, we have a problem."

Plus an old one that many on GD would appreciate:

"One over the eight."

And one more:

"Put a sock in it." (Old gramaphones didn't have a volume control, so a sock was used to make the music quieter).

Edit: I don't think the OP was referring to metaphors that are no longer used. I believe he meant metaphors that have become separated from their root - a metaphor where your meaning is clear even though the metaphor makes little or no sense if taken literally.

 

[Pseudo Statistic]

"Hey, hip cats."
"Don't have a cow, man."
"Those are some nice shades, cool daddio."
"You're from coolsville."
"Waddup homez?"
...

 

[Gza]

"Hey, hip cats."
"Don't have a cow, man."
"Those are some nice shades, cool daddio."
"You're from coolsville."
"Waddup homez?"


those aren't metaphors :)

 

[Pseudo Statistic]

Meh.. I'm pretty tired.. but what about the second and third? (And perhaps the fourth?)
Or calling someone a "chrome dome"?

 

[mattmns]

I still say "whaddup homez?"

 

[Mk]

"Hey, hip cats."
"Don't have a cow, man."
"Those are some nice shades, cool daddio."
"You're from coolsville."
"Waddup homez?"

The first, second and forth are.

"Heavy metal" perhaps?
"Walking on air"
"Tajikistan" In Persian, taj means "crown" and ik means "head," "people wearing a crowns on their head."
"Run (machine)" Run originally came from either the Sanskrit rin' ati meaning "causes to flow", or probably the Latin rivus, meaning stream... so runny nose is actually the right way to use it, whereas "the car is running" is not... is a metaphor responsible for this?

ArrrrrrrrGgggggggggggggg!

Heh, I burst out laughing... again! It happens everytime...

 

[loseyourname]

Coolsville is only metaphorical is you're referring to a state of being. If you're referring to an actual geographical location as "Coolsville," then it's just a hepcat adjective.

 

[Artman]

You people should quit beating a dead horse.

 

[Mk]

Coolsville is only metaphorical is you're referring to a state of being. If you're referring to an actual geographical location as "Coolsville," then it's just a hepcat adjective.

What's that?

 

[BobG]

You people should quit beating a dead horse.

What else are we supposed to do?

You can't lateral a horse.
(I'm shocked this one never caught on. It's roots are two interesting stories about blunders a couple of radio sports anouncers made.)

 

[Mk]

"Thread killers"
"Thread"
"Post"
"String"

 

[Zygotic Embryo]

Beat around the bush

 

[Huckleberry]

I'll buy that for a dollar
All that and a box of rocks
daddy needs a new pair of shoes
soylent green is people! (perhaps not a metaphor but I like to yell it loudly at inopportune times, hospitals, movie theathres, coitus)
the check is in the mail

Actually I might say any of these things at any time. Its entertaining to thingk of the possibilities.

 

[Selfless]

As a "rule of thumb", you shouldn't beat a dead horse, just your wife.

 

[Danger]

Given the weather around here, I've had to explain to most of my younger friends when I've complained of nearly being trampled by a flock of brass monkeys running for cover.

And yeah, I still use 'balls to the wall' all the time. Strangely enough, nobody's asked about that one.

There's one you never hear because I coined it (well, mixed metaphors): You can lead a horse to fire, but you can't make him smoke.

 

[Math Is Hard]

Last week, my 20 yr old brother was expressing his anxiety about applying for jobs, and my Mom told him, "Don't worry, honey. Everybody goes through that - so you don't have to feel like the Lone Ranger."
My brother instantly replied, "Who's the Lone Ranger?"

I've been teasing Mom about this quite a bit. Yesterday I was telling her "yeah, y'know, there's plenty of people in the same boat as I am, working full-time and going to school, so I don't feel like the Lone Ranger.. whoever the hell that is."

 

[Huckleberry]

Hi-Ho Silver Away!

And goodnight once again,
Huck

 

[Mk]

Beat around the bush

Oh really? What did the original metaphor mean?

 

[Monique]

I was just thinking about this thread today when someone said she "feeled like crap"

 

[matthyaouw]

Not a metaphor really, but just a word that seems to have slipped almost entirely out of the English language bar in one context. I'd wager that most people wouldn't know precisely what it meant.
"Requite"

I don't think I've ever heard it used unless someone was saying "unrequited love".

 

[Danger]

Oh really? What did the original metaphor mean?

Although I'm not positive, I believe that it referred to flushing game out of hiding during hunting.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. (But do check elsewhere in its anatomy for Greek soldiers )

lock, stock and barrel

three sheets to the wind (already explained in another thread)

dead ringer

knock wood

 

[Danger]

I don't think I've ever heard it used unless someone was saying "unrequited love".

I've heard it used incorrectly a few times, in place of 'redeem'. Specifically, someone tried to 'requite himself'.

three on a match

go off half-cocked

say 'cheese'

hit paydirt

fly (as in pants)

to 'goose' someone

build up a full head of steam

a tinker's dam

 

[akula]

Not really and English language item, but something people may not realize that they do almost every day.

the handshake (as I understand it, originally to show the person you come across that you are unarmed.)

 

[BobG]

Not really and English language item, but something people may not realize that they do almost every day.

the handshake (as I understand it, originally to show the person you come across that you are unarmed.)

No, the salute originated in the middle ages and was originally to show the person you came across that you were unarmed. The handshake is more ancient. While a few suppose the reason for its origin could be similar to that of the salute, its origin goes back beyond recorded history and isn't really known (the Egyptians explained that the handshake was a gift from God, for example).

 

[DaveC426913]

No, the salute originated in the middle ages and was originally to show the person you came across that you were unarmed.

I understood that the salute originated from armoured knights raising their face guards so as to be recognized.

 

[hypatia]

Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split ya.

A neighbor use to say that every time you left his house...aagghhhhh!

 

[Telos]

Men are pigs.

Girls are bugs.


Hmm. Maybe those haven't outgrown their usefulness!

 

[Selfless]

"The rule of thumb" was an old English law allowing a husband to beat his wife with a switch no larger circumference than the size of his thumb. It was thought to be a good or general measure. Hence, the modern meaning of the term.

 

[SOS2008]

"Put a sock in it." (Old gramaphones didn't have a volume control, so a sock was used to make the music quieter).

And all this time I thought it pertained to keeping a certain part of the body warm. Oh! That's "in" it - got it.

...soylent green is people! (perhaps not a metaphor but I like to yell it loudly at inopportune times, hospitals, movie theathres, coitus).

If you want some real excitement, just yell "Bingo" in a bingo hall.

[Regarding beating around the bush] Although I'm not positive, I believe that it referred to flushing game out of hiding during hunting.

Right, that would be followed by going off half-cocked. (hehe)

"The rule of thumb" was an old English law allowing a husband to beat his wife with a switch no larger circumference than the size of his thumb. It was thought to be a good or general measure. Hence, the modern meaning of the term.

It's a good thing you clarified this--I was about to see where the Tsu Mobile was. Welcome to PF.

 

[Danger]

Right, that would be followed by going off half-cocked.

Hey, there are no guarantees at my age.

 

[SOS2008]

The handshake is more ancient. While a few suppose the reason for its origin could be similar to that of the salute, its origin goes back beyond recorded history and isn't really known (the Egyptians explained that the handshake was a gift from God, for example).

I heard that some ancient people would wave in the opposite direction (toward themself) to mean "may you come back." Anyone know if this is true?

 

[Huckleberry]

I heard that some ancient people would wave in the opposite direction (toward themself) to mean "may you come back." Anyone know if this is true?

I took a peek on a few sites and didn't find anything about hand waving in an opposite direction, but I did see one site that said what most countries would consider a wave with the palm out and fingers spread moving in a side to side fashion is actually considered to mean "get away". In order to say "come here"
... well here's the site I saw that on. http://www.explorecrete.com/mycrete/customs/greek-gestures.html

If your really curious I saw a book for sale by William Griffith called simple "Greek Gestures".


Huck

 

[2CentsWorth]

Looks like I'm a day late, and in my case 2 cents short. The book on Greek gestures probably covers a lot more than waving good-bye. Hmm...

 

[Smurf]

Oh really? What did the original metaphor mean?

That is the original metaphor, the new one has been improved to just "Beat on Bush"

 

[Loren Booda]

We must all cultivate vital metaphors in our prose garden.

 

[Mk]

Mehhaaa! Muy Aweseomo! I'm getting tired of burning and ripping CDs, and I'm freezing. I think I'll put on my coat made of mink fur, and go eat a grilled sub sandwitch...

 

[Danger]

The book on Greek gestures probably covers a lot more than waving good-bye. Hmm...

I believe that their official national gesture is the deep bow.

 

[matthyaouw]

"Well that beats mine hands down!"
Anyone care to shed any light on this one? I never was quite sure what it meant.

 

[Danger]

"Well that beats mine hands down!"
Anyone care to shed any light on this one? I never was quite sure what it meant.

Don't know; maybe a poker reference?

 

[Mk]

lol, that actually sounds right.

What would you call something like "whale?"

Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning is "large sea animal," but now in English whale has been converted to a dead metaphor to describe again, a large thing.

 

[mapper]

"You are a dead ringer of your father"

Dead ringer, as far as I know, was suppose to be something they did to corpses. Back in the day they didnt have very good methods of declaring someone dead. Sometimes they were just comatose. After they exhumed some coffins they found out that some people where buried alive cause of the scratch marks from inside the coffin. So they tied a string to the end of a bell to inside the coffin so they could pull the string for help. A graves man would sit and wait a few days. When the bell rang they would call it a dead ringer. Now how on Earth did this evolve to insinuate the above phrase I have not a clue.

Also I've heard that the clawing from inside the coffins also had something to do with vampire myths. I've also heard that this phrase has nothing to do with the above. Still nobody is exactly sure.

ahh, found this one:

Origin : The definition of ringer, from which this phrase comes, is "substituted racehorse."
Unscrupulous racehorse owners have a fast horse and a slow horse that are nearly identical in appearance. They run the slow horse until the betting odds reached the desired level, then they substitute the ringer, who can run much faster. Dead in this case means abrupt or exact, like in dead stop, or dead shot.

This one makes more sense.

 

[gnome]

"Well that beats mine hands down!"
Anyone care to shed any light on this one? I never was quite sure what it meant.

The expression comes from horse racing. A jockey, certain that he's about to win and wanting to "stick it" to his opponents, might relax his grip on the reins & cross the finish line "hands down."

 

[BobG]

I've always been kind of perplexed by the phrase "pi eyed".

I can't imagine what it would take for a person to contort their eye into the shape of the 'pi' character. Are they referring to the expression on a person's face the first time they take the natural log of a negative number on a calculator capable of handling complex numbers?

 

[quantumdude]

Hi, it's me the anal Grammar Cop again.

I've only read the first few posts in this thread, but in them I haven't seen a single metaphor! What you blokes are talking about here are dead idioms.