(We’ve chuckled at Southern words, Midwestern phrases, Bo=
omer slang, and Computer jargon in recent months, so today we’ll focu=
s on words/phrases from our Grandparents’ day. Amazingly, I fin=
d myself still using some of these phrases from long ago in my present slig=
htly age-addled vocabulary)
1. ALL AROUND ROBIN HOOD’S BARN (or AROUND DICK=
IE’S WINDMILL)
(taking a circuitous r=
oute to a destination, or to wander in a story without getting to the point=
)
2. U=
SE SOME ELBOW GREASE
(recommendation for cl=
eaning tough pots and pans, and – to the chagrin of some – not =
found in a bottle under the sink)
 =
;
3. F.H.B.
(Famil=
y Hold Back, announced at the table quietly if we had unexpected guests and=
mom was not sure there was enough food for everyone; we knew we’d la=
ter get cereal – a real treat!)
&=
nbsp;
4. LIKE FIBBER MCGEE’S CLOSET
(overstuffed, cluttered, and unusable, from an old =
radio show ‘Fibber McGee & Molly’)
5. GET A LADDER TO KISS A SNAK=
E
(description of someone less than trustwor=
thy)
6=
=2E SLOWER THAN MOLASSES IN JANUARY
(perform=
ing a chore not “up to snuff” or speed for my dad)
7. I’LL BE A=
MONKEY’S UNCLE
(highly surprised at e=
vent or statement, or “monkey business” going on)
8. GET YOUR EARS LO=
WERED
(subtle recognition you need a hairc=
ut)
9.=
CAN’T PUT AN OLD HEAD ON YOUNG SHOULDERS
(when kids make mistakes or act plain dumb, this is a plea for patience=
)
10. =
THERE’S MORE TO FARMING THAN CASHING THE MILK CHECK=
(when everything could . . or did . . go wrong on the farm, t=
he money disappeared)
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
[email protected] =
www.grif.net
"Jesus Knows Me, T=
his I Love!"