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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
The "rabbit" subthread of Wordmap reminds me of another old custom: If you are walking with someone, and you two have to pass on either side of an obstacle (a tree, a light pole, etc), you both must say "bread and butter" to avoid having a fight later in the day (this is vaguely remembered). Anyone have anything similar? Anyone know where it comes from?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
I'm familiar with the custom, but was not exposed to it during childhood. I occasionally do it now, and whoever I'm with seems to understand the reference. Or perhaps they are ignoring me in the hopes I won't continue to spew apparently random phrases ...
As a child, I learned the "step on a crack, break your mother's back" litany.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
No idea about origin, AnnaS, but I do remember my mom putting a heritage twist on it - we often said "Lutefisk and Lefse".
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
You Minnesotans are something else. If I tried to walk and say "Lutefisk and Lefse" at the same time, I'd trip and fall.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
How about, when you say something at the same time as a friend, you're supposed to "link pinkies and make a wish".
The other form is to say "Jinx, you owe me a Coke" and as you get older "Jinx, you owe me a beer".
How about my mother's admonition against stirring things with a knife: "Stir with a knife, and you stir up strife."
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
AnnaS - An ex-coworker of mine just wouldn't let it happen. He never explained it other than "bad luck", but he would immediately turn around, go back and *immerge on my side.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 771 |
JINX YOU OWE ME A COKE!!! Inky, binky, dinky, winky, Wash it down the kitchen sinky, Alley oop, alley oop, ba-dinky. THE... King of France Wet his pants Right in the middle of a ballroom dance Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! (Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!) Na-na-naaah, na, na, na-na na-na-na-na-na - HUUUUH!
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
My Mexican mother-in-law always said "Company's coming" if anyone dropped a spoon. Well, actually she said " Cae cucharita, viene visita." [smartarse-e] but it doesn't rhyme in English
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