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Joined: Nov 2009
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2 |
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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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
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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Joined: Feb 2008
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
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)
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1 |
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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Joined: Aug 2005
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
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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.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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 Marriage should be a game of bridge, but more often it's a game of poker.
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Joined: Nov 2009
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Nov 2009
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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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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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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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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
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It was a meant as a very subtile comment on the bridgeroom.
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