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old hand
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old hand
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does anyone have info on the derivation of "tsk tsk"
I think it comes from Popeye the Sailor. He ended many words with an "sk," and, if my fading memory serves me right, he did say, "tisk, tisk" on several occasions when feigning sympathy with someone. Now, are there any other cartoon watchers "of a certain age" out there who remember this?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Ohmygoodness -- What hath I wrought?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I think [tsk tsk] it comes from Popeye the Sailor. ... Now, are there any other cartoon watchers "of a certain age" out there who remember this?
Sounds like Geoff knows more than he's telling, and maybe dropping clues for us palookas.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Are you talking about the comic "Joe Palooka?" All I recall of it is that Joe Palooka was a boxer/prizefighter.
Dr. Bill?
OED on "PALOOKA" --an inferior or average prizefighter; a stupid or mediocre person; an oaf,
Slang, chiefly US, origin unknown. Now, did OED take "palooka" from the comic strip ? or vice versa ? Hmmmm
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old hand
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old hand
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Now, did OED take "palooka" from the comic strip ? or vice versa ? Hmmmm
Most certainly Joe Palooka came first, much as "doozie" came from Deusenberg. And no, Keiva, I don't know more than I'm letting on. I'm hoping that those older than I (yes, that IS possible!) might remember the Popeye cartoons more clearly than I, or maybe even have a few on hand.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Regarding Joe Palooka: did he tsk too? If so, who came first: Popeye or Palooka?
One aspect of Popeye's humor was that his speech was imperfect ("I'm strong to the finish 'cause I eats me spinach"), so he may not be an authority on proper tsk-ing. Or may even be an authority on how to misuse it?
(Aside: how odd to be discussing, as precedents, the relative precedence of Popeye and Palooka.)
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I remember hearing "palooka" used as a derogatory name for a low ranked boxer. My dictionary says it was originated prior to 1928. palooka n. ?: popularized by Jack Conway (died 1928), U.S. baseball player and sportswriter6 [Old Slang] a clumsy or oafish fellow, esp. an inept athlete For more about Popeye than you really wanted to know, see this URL' http://www.snowcrest.net/zepp/Sociology/what_i_learned_from_popeye.htm
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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and *my Hoover is depressing.
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veteran
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If you're saying, Dr. Bill, that the word palooka is older than the comic strip, I agree. I seem to recall seeing it used in a Damon Runyan story, but don't have a copy of that work and can't check. Runyan, of course, wrote in the 1920s. The comic strip started later than the 20's.
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OP
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You can watch Popeye cartoons online at liketelevision.com.
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