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no sense is speaking double-dutch

common in UK too. Presumably derives from one's tongue rotating in two opposite directions simultaneously?
Other "Dutch" phrases include: (and yes I know some have appeared in odd posts over the last few months, not aware of a collection. If so - sorry)

My old Dutch
Dutch cap
Going Dutch
Dutch Courage
Dutch door
Dutch auction
Dutch concert
Rod


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The only reference I have for "double dutch" is a jump rope game-- you double the rope- and have two seperate lines (commonly, you'd run the rope behind your back) Your left arm turns the rope clockwise, and your right arm, counter clockwise--

It harder to jump with two ropes, and the "jump rope song" are faster-- It used to be a real big thing in NYC-- (and it tended to follow ethnic lines-- Black girls where always the best-- followed by white girls, black boys, and almost never competing, white boys.) Back in february or so, there was a world championship double dutch contest-- and for the second year in a row, the team from japan won.

the japanese teams tend to be older (college age) and semi professional-- they are attending a sports university and can take courses in double dutch! Most of the other contestants where from US cities.. (and i think mostly east coast cities at that..)

On the main thread topic-- i have never heard "seperating the english from the dutch"--- wheat from chaff, yes.men from boys, yes.


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<<My shot-in-the-dark guess is it has something to do with New Amsterdam's change to New York - from Dutch to English control.>>

I second that. Probably from just before the conquest.

Is there a parallel expression: "separate the flatlanders from the green mountain boys"?


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I've never heard of 'separating the english from the dutch' either.

Apart from anything else, in my situation it could be a rather painful experience, as I'm distinctly half and half!


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"double dutch" is a jump rope game

hence my reference to rotating of the tongue. Recently I saw Cirque de Soleil with their Quidam (sp?) production. One of the acts in that consisted of incredibly complicated jump-rope ("skipping" in UK). People skipping with their own rope over multiple other ropes, all in time to music. That was great as was the rest of the show.

Rod


#28816 05/11/01 02:14 PM
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jump-rope ("skipping" in UK).

Growing up in NorthEast we said we were "playing jump rope"
for the game. Skipping rope was the action itself.
Skipping also means the individual act of sort of bouncing along on the toes... a kind of exaggerated happy walk ...
There is a New Englander I saw on a local TV show who skips for his daily "walk" and promotes it actively as a great form of excercise, more fun than boring old strolling and jogging.
It's hard to skip without smiling!
Now that's a recommendation. Has anyone else noticed how grim runners look?
And do any of those walkers who have "Walkmen" radios plugged in their ears EVER listen to anything happy? They all look rather glum.
Only semi-animated walkers/runners are those accompanied by a friend!
Thoughts?
wow


#28817 05/11/01 02:29 PM
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And all the jump rope songs? Strawberry shortcake! and so many others.. they started out slowly and each round became faster and faster, and the "turners" kept rhythm to the song?

and skip walking? every seventh step was a skip-- so a neat line of girls in their uniforms, (ours where blue jumpers (american jumpers) a sleeveless navy wool serge, with a fitted top, and 6 gore skirt, worn with a white peter pan blouse, and a blue bow tie) walking down the street-- only ever seventh step we take a skip-- and giggle-- not at all the effect the nuns were hoping for!


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BY, this Michiganian is unfamiliar with separating the Dutch from the English. Around here, both separating the men from the boys and the wheat from the chaff are used.


#28819 05/11/01 02:50 PM
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Skipping also means cutting class. We never call it cutting class here - I associate that with USn TV shows.


#28820 05/11/01 03:32 PM
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Skipping also means cutting class. We never call it cutting class here

We used "skipping" class too. Cutting class seems to have morphed into use during the 1950s - '60s.


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