#187708 - 11/10/09 11:57 AM
Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"
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stranger
Registered: 11/10/09
Posts: 2
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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]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 3764
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
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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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#187727 - 11/11/09 07:35 AM
Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"
[Re: twosleepy]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/23/06
Posts: 3764
Loc: Netherlands, the Hague
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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. "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]
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stranger
Registered: 11/11/09
Posts: 1
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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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#187736 - 11/11/09 03:36 PM
Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"
[Re: twosleepy]
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stranger
Registered: 11/10/09
Posts: 2
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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]
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old hand
Registered: 06/23/08
Posts: 1009
Loc: Frozenwastesistan
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 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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#187750 - 11/11/09 10:38 PM
Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms
[Re: poetree]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 10393
Loc: Louisville, Kentucky
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10 horse-related words or phrases that are used with respect to weddings. Welcome, poetree (I like your name, btw). Interesting thought. Let me see--wedding-related words of all kinds: vows, pledge, troth, gown, tuxedo, bridesmaids...aha! groomsmen, groom, bride, veil, aisle, presents... Oh great, I thought of two whole ones--including one you gave. I'll keep thinking. Um...maybe stamp, in a Jewish wedding? (That goblet thing.)
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#187753 - 11/12/09 03:21 AM
Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"
[Re: BranShea]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/27/02
Posts: 2064
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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references: wrapped 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) I can't give you an answer but it doesn't seem to be just in English. In Spanish a male and female dog are "perro y perra"; cats would be "gato y gata"; horses are "caballo y yegua." A caballa is a mackerel.
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#187755 - 11/12/09 06:39 AM
Re: Related to Horses -"Wrapped Around the Axle"
[Re: Zed]
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Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 12/01/00
Posts: 12533
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Hmmm. Googling "etimologia de caballa" yields zero hits. Dunno if the fact that Spanish caballo derives from the Latin caballus, 'gelded horse' makes any difference. Yegua comes from the standard Latin equa, feminine of equus.
Edited by Faldage (11/12/09 06:53 AM)
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#187756 - 11/12/09 07:20 AM
Re: caballa, yegua
[Re: Faldage]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/13/05
Posts: 2477
Loc: R'lyeh
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caballa Pez teleósteo, de tres a cuatro decímetros de largo, de color azul y verde con rayas negras por el lomo. Vive en cardúmenes en el Atlántico Norte y se pesca activamente para su consumo. ( link). The Atlantic mackerel, in Spanish, caballa, macarela, or in taxonomy, Scomber scombrus ( link). In Middle English makerel also meant a 'pimp, bawd' ( link), and this meaning was carried over from French; of ultimate unknown etymology, though it might be connected with English make, German machen.
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#187762 - 11/12/09 12:23 PM
Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms
[Re: poetree]
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old hand
Registered: 02/28/08
Posts: 796
Loc: western NY
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Sad Tail ~~~~~~~~~~
This was to be a very exciting event, based on what was dun to arrive at this point. Being a Jewish wedding, there was, of course, the canter, who came through the gait looking very foal of himself. When he began his job, however, it was clear he should have been more careful at the football game, as out came some awful sounds that revealed he was completely hoarse. The parents began to rack their brains for a solution. The canter apologized for having to bale out on them, and sadly left the bridle party without a singer. Their luck went from bad to worse, as a sudden colt front blew in, chilling all the guests and family alike. So upset was the father, he was overheard saying "Dam this city and it's changeable weather". The mare fact of having him udder this curse was so offensive, everyone stud up and left.
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#187770 - 11/12/09 07:05 PM
Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms
[Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
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old hand
Registered: 02/28/08
Posts: 796
Loc: western NY
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Though I'm not up to checking them all I suspect 13 words of being horse-related. Am I right? nay. (actually, you are, but I couldn't pass it by.) Actually, she's not! And I'm not counting any repeats. But hay, maybe y'all aren't up to the challenge... ;0)
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#187771 - 11/12/09 08:24 PM
Re: Related to Horses -Wedding terms
[Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
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addict
Registered: 12/18/06
Posts: 666
Loc: Auckland, New Zealand
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Though I'm not up to checking them all I suspect 13 words of being horse-related. Am I right? nay. (actually, you are, but I couldn't pass it by.) Whoaful.
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