While in Minisoda this past week, my niece was heard to say "Jeez o' peas!". A Minnesotan said "You must be from Michigan. Here we say "Holy Buckets!" She is only 8, were they pulling her leg?
consuelo
Since no reply from Michigoose, I will say that "Jeez o peas" might sound to an oldtimer like "taking the name of the Saviour in vain" and call for either a rebuke or an offer of a less offensive phrase. But "Holy Buckets" also sounds like a euphemism for some forbidden phrase. I have heard some oldtimers say "Goodness Gracious" when they hit their finger with a hammer, and make it clear that it was an inverted form of swearing.
So I guess your daughter might as well pick her own expletives.
Incidentally, I think the word "vain" as used above is related to the German word "wehen" meaning to swear.
When I first moved to the Cincinnati area I found the term "jeezle peats" to be fairly common. I find it annoying. That was in the fifth grade. I don't think it's quite as common now.
I suppose it could be "Holey Buckets!" Carrying water in a bucket full of holes could be a frustrating experience.
consuelo
This could be taken as a euphemism in its attempt to avoid taking the name of one's Lord in vain. What is it if you then proceed to infix some crass word such as Jeez o'flicking peas?
A rather subdued, well-mannered and soft-spoken ex-flatmate of mine once surprised us all during some moment of minor household crisis by exclaiming in frustration something that we all heard as "Flipping heck!". When someone commented how unusual it was to hear such language from her, she did not think there was anything wrong with it. She said the only thing she found unusual about the expression was how anyone could be expected to "flip a neck"...
I find it very interesting to note the migration of euphemisms, with the taboo subject taking up residence in a succession of words or phrases. A case in point is "God blind me" => "Gor Blimey" => "Blimey".
But for migration analagous to that of the Arctic Tern on has to consider our way of dealing, verbally, with the place for the disposal of our bodily wastes.
Even the Latin -"latrine" - refers (I think) to a washing or bathing place.
English monks in the Medieval period called it "the necessary" (and I wonder if this is the root of the Geordie {i.e. NE England} term "the Netty" for the same building?)
Certainly by the time of the Stuarts - and, I think much earlier - the term, "the privvy," (i.e. - a private place) had come into use - and continues to be used to this day, although decreasingly so, usually in reference to an earth- or pail-closet.
The invention of a system to carry excrementitious matter far away from its source by the use of water was called - reasonably enough - a "Water Closet," which very soon became "W/C". There was no great love of initialised abbreviation at that period, so the use of initials in this instance can only be for euphemistic reasons, I believe.
The Victorians found that term vulgar and started to use "lavatory," meaning washing-place - a reference, perhaps to the fact that the W/C was often to be found in the bathroom. "The Lav" became an acceptable euphemism for a long time, but in recent years has been altered even more obscurely into "the Loo." Only a very common person would refer to "the Lav," these days!
There is a whole raft of terms for such places that are provided for general, rather than family, use. "Public Convenience" is a favourite, although, again, "W/C" is also quite frequent, and also "Toilet" - especially in buildings that are frequented by the public, such as restaurants.
Of course, there are a whole range of other euphemisms to be found, which are either peculiar to a particular family, or are an attempt at whimsical humour by a business person. (E.g., "Guys" and "Dolls")
One wonders why it is deemed proper to be so coy about a totally natural and essential function of the body. It is, as I hope I have demonstrated above, not a modern bit of prudishness, no left-over from the Victorian era, but a very long standing need to hide this function.
Is it for the same reason that many animals dig holes to hide their excrement?
re:Is it for the same reason that many animals dig holes to hide their excrement?
From what i read, it more likely for preditors to bury their excrement than prey-- and this goes right down to incects. Large wolf spiders eat small wolf spiders.. and when small wolf spiders are exposed to the smell of excretia from large wolf spiders that have been eating smaller ones.. the smaller ones behave differently.. (than when exposed to the smell of large wolf spiders that have been eating other bugs.) they hid more..
what is taboo changes from culture to culture.. in the past-- "out house's" were sometime 2 or 3 seaters.. and there are public toilets in various places that offer less than 'western' privacy.. some rather "civilized" cultures have no problem with (men especially) urinating in public. In most of the US this would get you a citation for public indecency-- and maybe a second for urinating (pollution) in public.
I have been to bars (gay bars) were the stalls in the toilet had no doors-- and the facility was unisex-- (the idea was the guys weren't much interested in looking at the gals anyway...)
"the privvy," (i.e. - a private place) had come into use - ....usually in reference to an earth- or pail-closet.
Privy, OED says, a private place ... in New England the outhouse was often called the privy ... there are still a few houses around with a privy/outhouse but mostly they're connected to hunting cabins in the woods where sewers not in place.
Up until the mid-1960s one could occasionally see a real estate ad for a house "with a path" available in a small town. The euphemism was used for a house with no indoor toilet, but a path that led from the back door to the privy/outhouse.
"with a path"
Whew! Talk about your euphemisms. Sounds like a garden path.
"with a path"
Whew! Talk about your euphemisms. Sounds like a garden path.
As a matter of fact, wild flowers did grow profusely around privies! A little restraint with comments please.
On an oblique path : Knowing about use of "privy" for an outhouse, I was somewhat taken aback when I first read stories about England where the author talked about the Privy Council to say nothing of Privy Counsellors! Oh! the images!
Come to think of it ....
And so begins the list of realtorese:
price recently reduced = still way overpriced
summer room = outdoors with a roof
three-seasons room = indoors without heat
mature plantings = overgrown and diseased
picturesque = no identifiable architectural style
cozy = too small for midgets
handyman special = condemned by the authorities
with a path = without plumbing
quaint = without plumbing or electricity
Almost a hundred years ago there was a humorist named Chick Sale, who may have been a vaudeville performer. His repertoire consisted so largely of privy jokes that his name became eponymous for such facilities.
stories about England where the author talked about the Privy Council to say nothing of Privy Counsellors! Oh! the images
wow - I do have to protest! a "counsellor" is one who is consulted for advice on whatever problems s/he specialises in. The person that you are referring to, above, is a Privy Councillor, someone who sits on a Council (in this case, of course, the Private Council called by the Sovereign to discuss matters of moment to the monarchy. It is a fine line, but councillors, on the whole, make decisions, rather than give advice, as do counsellors.
In UK, the epitome of 'Esate-Agent-speak" is, "desirable residence, in need of some modernisation - ", meaning a C17 cottage that has almost no roof left, and a six-foot ash-tree growing out of the kitchen sink.
a six-foot ash-tree growing out of the kitchen sink
Ah, gone is the classical education. There should have been at least some mention of the word mythic
Oh! I'll gladly pass up the classical education for signs of
ANY education in Estate Agents/realtors
PS - any mention of Ethics from an English Estate Agent can only occur if, a) he has a lisp, and, b) he is referring to property situate
(sic) in the county immediately to the East of London!
(and, waddayaknow! my hand has caught up with the rest of my body!)
In reply to:
(and, waddayaknow! my hand has caught up with the rest of my body!)
Congratulations! That explains the big smile!
In reply to:
what is taboo changes from culture to culture.. in the past-- "out house's" were sometime 2 or 3 seaters.. and there are public toilets in various places that offer less than 'western' privacy.. some rather "civilized" cultures have no problem with (men especially) urinating in public.
From Herodotus's "Histories":
[2] Just as the Egyptians have a climate peculiar to themselves, and their river is different in its nature from all other rivers, so, too, have they instituted customs and laws contrary for the most part to those of the rest of mankind. Among them, the women buy and sell, the men stay at home and weave; and whereas in weaving all others push the woof upwards, the Egyptians push it downwards. [3] Men carry burdens on their heads, women on their shoulders. Women pass water standing, men sitting. They ease their bowels indoors, and eat out of doors in the streets, explaining that things unseemly but necessary should be done alone in private, things not unseemly should be done openly.
Now, if the Egyptians have "instituted customs and laws contrary for the most part to those of the rest of mankind", what does that tell us about the Ancient Greeks?
Quote taken from http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126&layout=&loc=2.35
Bingley