Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"

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#187708 - 11/10/09 11:57 AM Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"
On The C&O stranger Registered: 11/10/09 Posts: 2	Hi, "Wrapped Around the Axle" - I have often wondered about the origin of this phrase. I think that it means to be in an extremely frustrating situation as when the horses reins are dropped and they get wrapped around the axle of the carriage or wagon. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks Frank C
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#187714 - 11/10/09 02:50 PM Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle" [Re: On The C&O]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 3764 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	references: wrapped It may be an old expression and come from horse and carriage or wheelbarrow. When it happens with your bike it's no fun either. Something that brings you to a grinding halt and is difficult to remove, is what I read it means. What intrigues me however, speaking of horses, is why the horse mackerel is called horse mackerel. You're welcome to answer that. (horses don't eat fish nor does horse mackerel have hoofs)
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#187722 - 11/10/09 08:52 PM Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle" [Re: BranShea]
twosleepy old hand Registered: 02/28/08 Posts: 796 Loc: western NY	As far as the "axle" issue goes, I don't see any particular connection to horses, wagons and reins. The axle(s) of a wagon would be nowhere near the reins, even if you dropped them. Besides, most harnesses have keepers to prevent the reins from dropping down. I think it's just a generic axle, as any axle (or any spinning thing, for that matter) is going to get messed up if something wraps around it. From Wiki, Bran: "It gets its common name from the legend that other smaller species of fish could ride on the back of it over great distances." :0)
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#187727 - 11/11/09 07:35 AM Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle" [Re: twosleepy]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 3764 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	True, not particularly horse- related. Just spinning things. A twig blocking the grass mower. It might be interesting to know when the expression was first used. Quote: "It gets its common name from the legend that other smaller species of fish could ride on the back of it over great distances." That's cute. A legend or reality ? A live mackerel has a really splendid multi-colored skin. A friend brought some home from a fishing trip off the coast here. A favorite fish.
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#187728 - 11/11/09 11:23 AM Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms [Re: BranShea]
poetree stranger Registered: 11/11/09 Posts: 1	A cabbie in San Francisco once told me there are 10 horse-related words or phrases that are used with respect to weddings. Certainly, "bridal", "hitched" and "groom" come to mind, and even "ring" could be tossed in. But since then, I've been racking my brain to come up with others. Any ideas?
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#187729 - 11/11/09 12:23 PM Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms [Re: poetree]
zmjezhd Pooh-Bah Registered: 08/13/05 Posts: 2476 Loc: R'lyeh	Bridal (< Old English brȳdealo 'wedding feast' < brȳd 'bride' and ealu 'ale') and bridle (from Old English brīdel) are two different words. The groom in bridgeroom originally meant 'man'; related to Latin homo, hominis.
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#187731 - 11/11/09 12:45 PM Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms [Re: zmjezhd]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 3764 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	Marriage should be a game of bridge, but more often it's a game of poker.
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#187736 - 11/11/09 03:36 PM Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle" [Re: twosleepy]
On The C&O stranger Registered: 11/10/09 Posts: 2	Maybe a sulky or hansom cab would present an opportunity for the reins to become wrapped in the wheels or around the axle.
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#187738 - 11/11/09 04:56 PM Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms [Re: BranShea]
LukeJavan8 old hand Registered: 06/23/08 Posts: 1007 Loc: Frozenwastesistan	Originally Posted By: BranShea Marriage should be a game of bridge, but more often it's a game of poker. Or Russian Roulette. _________________________ ----please, draw me a sheep----
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#187744 - 11/11/09 06:08 PM Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms [Re: LukeJavan8]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 3764 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	It was a meant as a very subtile comment on the bridgeroom.
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