Those wise old sayings! (and the not so wise and not so old)

[Deleted member 29185]

In a recent thread, @drron quoted an old phrase "Shank's Pony". I've heard that saying for as long as I can remember and I foolishly believed that to a localised term (apparently, it's not) that meant by a slow but steady pace, but it made me think there must be plenty of those family sayings out there that maybe needs a little revival in this modern era.

So without using Google, what's the sayings you've heard (and used) and what is your interpretation of the meaning ...

I'll start with the phrase:
"Telling a furphy" - is, I believe a tall story or white lie. An old guy told me it originated from WW1 where the Victorian made Furphy water tank was hauled around the battlefields by mule and become a focal point to regale with tales of battle, with quite a few of those tales embellished somewhat.

What pearlers do you hold dear?

 

[drron]

These things have been around since Methuselah was a baby.

 

[love_the_life]

My understanding of Shank’s pony is walking.

 

[drron]

My father walking into a restaurant,any restaurant.
Stone the crows this is just another clip joint.

 

[tgh]

Sadly the good 'ol Aussie vernacular is a dying language as it often reflects racist and sexist overtones that are no longer tolerated in our brave new sensitive clever intelligent caring non discriminatory non……. .. world.

 

[Blinky]

My late old man used to say ‘Jesus wept’ when exasperated. Saying ‘Jesus’ alone would get you glares of disapproval, particularly in a Catholic family. ‘Jesus wept’ is the shortest sentence in the New Tesatment and dad could say ‘I’m quoting the bible’ if questioned.

 

[RooFlyer]

My late old man used to say ‘Jesus wept’ when exasperated.

I still do

 

[drron]

These ramblings just look like a pakapoo ticket.Father always said my homework resembled said ticket.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sink the slipper in

Since Adam was a boy

Give you a tingle

Looking likety split

By jingoes

Turn the wireless on

I’ll tan your hide

 

[Blinky]

I miss rhyming slang. We still see some of it, like dead horse for sauce, but nothing like the 60s and the 70s. I remember once being asked if I “current to the Jack”, to which I responded “yes”. I was being asked if I “current and cake” (take) to the “Jack Lang” (slang).

Wonderful use of language.

 

[Hvr]

Fair dinkum unbelievable, I'll get on the "dog and bone" to see if anybody knows more of these old sayings.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Stick the wood in the hole will you please

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Fair dinkum unbelievable, I'll get on the "dog and bone" to see if anybody knows more of these old sayings.

Isn't that meant to be "Fair dinkum cobber" ... or "strewth mate"!

 

[Steady]

My understanding of Shank’s pony is walking.

Mine also

 

[Cruiser Elite]

A stitch in time saves nine

Measure twice cut once

Over the hill

A tin ear

A fast woman

Bring your togs

The out house

Bush telegraph

The cheque is in the mail

Two bob snob

 

[drron]

Or the 2 bob watch-as in he's as reliable as a 2 bob watch.

 

[drron]

I'll take a squiz at that.

 

[leadman]

All my work is overseas now on 3 continents and slowly but surely some getting used to firstly, my accent and secondly, my grammar/slang. I work right through many companies from the "shop floor" to the Board and Chairman so the type of language and communications change but at each level they often struggle.

Point is, some of our slang is so descriptive like "a Dorothy Dix", shaping up for a "blue", that's just S$%#t itself. They are brilliant at quickly describing something without "beating around the bush"! Then to describe someone ill as "crook" or even worse "crook as Rookwood" is just too hard to explain to many. Don't tell anybody you're just having a "stickybeak" and doesn't "going for a slash" raise some eyebrows.......

I find the Americans the strangest, for some reason a work-crew wanted me to repeat "18" as they found my pronunciation/accent of the word hilarious.

 

[VPS]

An ex colleague was working in Vancouver and he said to someone we'll just put that in the too hard basket and he said no one had any idea what he was talking about

 

[Hvr]

'Go for your life' is taken differently in the good ol' USA. As is 'let's get a good posse'.