Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-01-12
Popular Phrases.


play their part, achieve a certain degree
of popularity, and then are lot sight Of.
No one knows where they come from,
where they go, or how they go.
The most active agents in circulating
and difiusing these phrases and words are
the wild boys of the streets, commonly
called the "street Arabs" and the min
strels. Both act in their respective
spheres, but in an entirely different way
The former circulate them among them
selves, and they gradually extend to other
classes, while the latter, by means of "a
song or joke, address them TO hundreds
of persons at the same time, and by their
successive repetition cause them to
take" Stump speakers also play a
prominent part in the diffusion of these
phrases. There are numerous other ways
by which they are circulated and rendered
popular, but these just mentioned are the
most important.
The most popular phrase at the present
time is "What are nou going to do about
it?" Almost every person is familiar
with its origin and the various ways in
which it has been used. 1t sprung into
existence during an interview between
" Boss" Tweed and reporter at the COM
mencement of the Reform movement, and
appearing at an auspicious moment it was
taken up by the press and spread through
out the country, and is in daily use every
where.
The year 1870 was very prolific in these,
/ and tho onoo which made theiP 'npnnar-
ance during that year became very popu-
lar, but are now becoming worn out
! Among the most popular were You
know how it is yourself" How does the
old thing work." Put a head on him, y
and " How is that for high?" The first
two are supposed to have originated with
VIM. NJ Tweed, and were used by him at
least five years previous, although they
were not appreciated until lately. The
phrase Glow does the old thing work"
is a contraction of G. How does the whole
thing work." which was favorite and
frequent question or expression with the
"Boss" when addressing his workers"
concerning the political condition of the
districts which they controlled.
The phrase, "Put head on him, orig
mated in the following way: 1t was the
prevailing custom among the editors OF
daily papers to preface the reports and
articles with striking and attractive head
ings or headlines to draw the attention of
the readers. This was carried to extremes,
and words were often strained for the
purpose. One of the subeditors of q
and prefaced a report with what he con
sidered very attractive heading, but
when it came to the eyes of the editor-in-
chief he thought otherwise, and in Ian
guage the reverse of complimentary told
the sub-editor that if he should ever put
such a head on q report again he would
put head on him. 1t passed from the
SanctUm to the outer world, and became
very popular. In course of time the
"head' was modified to a "mansard roof,
after the style of the roof which had re
Gently been introduced.
AT the commencement of the late wal
the phrases Cant see it" and Cant SCI
the point" were all the rage. When thu
news of the attack on Fort Sumter wa:
received in this city scarcely any ont
would believe the news contained in thu
''eXtras." and would say they couldn'
see it, meaning that they could not be
lieve it, ItwaS followed by ~ can't stanC
the press" which did not however, be
come as popular as it's predecessor.
About four years ago it was the custom
among the gdl1inS to address person whc
was passing, by shouting out Say anC
as the person addressed would turn arOunt
to see who was calling him they woult
add "Can you see?" in the tune of tn
Star-Spangled Banner, of which thes
words were the first line Many amusing
incidents occurred in this way, but it
popularity run the usual course and thel
died ont, being scarcely ever heard now
+ "Does your mother know you are out 2
was very popular few years ago, bu
has become almost obsolete. The phras
had its origin in London some thirty year
since, and in short time it was taken VI
by the entire population. 1t appears t
have been aimed at precocious youth
who assume all the airs of manhood befor
they have hardly entered their "teens,
and was addressed to the class of youn,
men who affect certain staggering air
who smoke, chew and travel with tn
"b'hoys." II implied that the individual
to whom it was addressed was incapable
of taking care of himself, and should no
have been cut loose from his mother
apron strings, which was really very pro
voking. This question necessitated an an
swer, of which there were many the on
, most in vogue in this city was, " Yes, an
she gave me penny to buy monke
: with, are you for sale ?" This would gen
orally have the required effect, and til
z questioner would cork up"
"Hunky Dory' has always proved ff
vorite expression, and seems to be Al
Americanism. Its derivation is rather OF
scure and very little known. The follow
ing, think, is the true one; Hunk wa
the term used by boys century ago, i
their play for goal, and is still in use t
this day, particularly in the game calle
4 "tag." To be "hunkn or "all hunk,
was, therefore, to have reached the gos
without being interrupted by one of til
opposite side. The word finally becam
corrupted to huRky, which meant, in popr
: lar phraseology, all right The " dory
u attachment was subsequently, added, an
: is probably modification of the Frenc
! word doree, meaning gold.
"Sound on the goose" is phrase c
+ similar import, which was very pOpula
! in the South, meaning to be orthodox o
u the slave question. Another is ''up I
a snuff" an old English phrase, whic
i means knowing, sharp, wide-awake. TheI
) is also o. K, an abbreviation for all CO..
rect, improperly spelled OIL Korrek
J. whose origin is somewhat similar to the
of U. s. A government official, who wa
Z very illiterate, was accustomed to sig
the documents which came under his NJ
J. tice, with his name, and, to show tha
!, they were all right. added the words so
y Korrekt, which were, in time, abbrev
IS ated to o. X.
|, Bully" is term of commendation an
IS piled in a patronizing way among the WI
e gar, and means very fine. A more c,
II tensiye phrase is "a bully boy with
l. glass eye"
Paddle your own canoe,n fguratiy
# Western phrase, is to the point, and hl
!. been saved from obscurity by beingworl
D. ed into song, the words of which fir
r, appeared in Hd1per's Magazine about eigh
l. cen years ago. II is stock song in u
e circus ring, the tune being familiar I
" most everybody. II means TO make one
d own way in life.
y When person wishes to give to a wor
n or senIenne q meaning dirnctlu nnnnaiII