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

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)

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)

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.


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.

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?

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.

Marriage should be a game of bridge, but more often it's a game of poker.

Maybe a sulky or hansom cab would present an opportunity for the reins to become wrapped in the wheels or around the axle.

Or Russian Roulette.

It was a meant as a very subtile comment on the bridgeroom.

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.)

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.

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.

caballa 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.

Ha, the Atlantic; that's my mackerel! Now we know all about it ,
bis auf die Gräten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.

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.)

Paralysis, brought to a atop is what I have always heard in relation to this phrase. Literally the horse would stop if the reins did happen to fall and get wrapped around the axle. I imagine it would be a bad accident for all involved. I wonder if this also happens when in horse racing, pacers break their stride or gait and wind up out of the race. I have also heard it used in the context if someone says this phrase about themselves they are about to scream.

Actually, she's not! And I'm not counting any repeats. But hay, maybe y'all aren't up to the challenge... ;0)

Whoaful.

Latin caballus, 'gelded horse' What does a cabal have to do with a gelded horse? And why were so many dogs in (fictional) literary works set in Merrie Olde England named Cabal?

What does a cabal have to do with a gelded horse? And why were so many dogs in (fictional) literary works set in Merrie Olde England named Cabal?

Well, the cabal which means a group of conspirators is from Hebrew qabbalah 'received knwoledge; tradition' via Latin cabala. Not sure about the canine names; tradition perhaps. Any way, it's a coincidence.

While the German word Kabale means vile intrigues, our word kabaal means loud noise.

Wow. And, thanks, zmjezhd.