The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-11
Some Slang Phrases.

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and this, when connected with the Latin
word timgua (tongue), signified the bad
language our forefathers supposed the
gypsies INDUCED in. 1t then became
synonymous for every word used in a
thief's vocabulary; but as both gyp-
sizes and thieves are not without great
deal of mother-wit, the word slang.
originally their property, was borrowed
from them by their respectable neigh
bors, and applied to all phrases Of a
pithy and familiar nature, whether
coarse or refined, that expressed in one
or few brief words a definite, I'M
mistakable meaning, which brought a
picture before the mind, and there fixed
the impression it was desired to con-
vey.
The origin of some of these phrases
is curious and interesting. Take, for in
stance, the familiar expression, "You
cannot say Bo! to goose" How oft
Ell have. we relieved our feelings of ir-
ritation at the weakness of others by
hurting this phrase at them! Had they
only known its origin, they could have
paid us back in our own coin, and made
us feel very small indeed. But though
we almost hesitate to arm them with a
weapon which they may turn against
ourselves, we must be conscientious,
and do what we have undertaken. The
story is this: When Ben Jonson, the
dramatist, was introduced to nobf@-
man, the peer was so struck with his
homely appearance that he exclaimed
"What! you are Ben Jonson? Why,
you look as if you could not say Bo! to
a goose" "Bo" exclaimed the witty
dramatist, turning to the peer and max
ing his bow.
From geese we pass on to cats, which
are very emblematic in slang, and in
the phrase, Letting the cat out of the
bag" we are reminded of its thievish
ancestry. "It was formerly trick
among country folks to substitute cat
for sucking-pig, and bring it in a bag
to market. If any greenhorn chose to
buy pig in poke-that is, blind
bargain without examining the con-
tents of the bag-all very well; but if
he opened the sack, 'he let the cat out
of the bag and the trick was. discov-
cred" And so the phrase passed into
common use as applying to anyone
who let out secret. "Who will bell
the cat?" became another popular
phrase, and is taken from the fable of
the cunning old mouse who suggested
that they should hang a bell round the
cats neck, so that due warming might
be had of her approach. The idea was
IF NV oil ha nI.
there was only one drawback to it-who
was to hang the bell round the cats
neck? or, in shorter words, who was to
bell the cat? Not one of them was
found ready to run the risk of sacrific-
ing his own life for the safety of the
others, which is now the recognized
meaning of the proverb. Fighting
like Kilkenny CATS" is another slang
smile, taken from story that two cats
once fought so ferociously in saw-pit
that they left nothing behind them but
their tails-which story is an allegory,
and supposed to represent two towns in
Kilkenny that contended so "stoutly
about boundaries and rights to the end
of the seventeenth century that they
mutually impoverished each other"
DRAW it mild" and "Come it
strong" have their origin in music, be-
ing the terms used by the leader of an
orchestra when he wishes his violin
players to play loud or gently. From
this they have passed into synonyms
for eXaggerators or boosters, who are
requested either to moderate their
statements or to astonish their audi
ence.
81 have a bone to pick with you"
is a phrase uncomplimentary to the
ladies at starting. 1t means, as is well
known, having an unpleasant matter to
settle with you; and this is the origin
of the phrase: AT the marriage ban
quets of the Sicilian poor, the bride s
father, after the meal, used to hand the
bridegroom bone, saying: Pick this
bone, for you have taken in hand a
much harder task ~ 1.-The gray mare
is the better horse" comes well after
this last aspersion upon the fair sex, to
show that woman is paramount. The
origin of this proverb was that man
wished to buy horse, but his wife took
a fancy to a gray mare, and SO pertina-
ciously insisted that the gray mare was
the better horse that her husband was
obliged to yield the point. But then,
no doubt, he saw that she was right in
the end, and in all probability boosted
afterward of his selection.
"To be among the gods" at thea
ter, is common phrase applied to
those who are seated near the ceiling,
which in most theaters is generally
painted blue, to represent the sky, and
inhabited by rosy-faced Cupids sitting
on clouds.
" First catch your hare" is the re-
suit of mistake. 1t was supposed 10
be in cookery book written by a GER
tain Mrs. Glasse, and was evidently
caught hold of by some wag, who read
it for, First scatch or scradge your
hare" that is, skin and trim tan
East Anglican word; or else, First
scotch your hare before you jug it,"
that is, cut it into small pieces. The
sentence as tits now quoted is nowhere
in the book. But the wag was clever
one who gave it the precautionary turn,
as the phrase has done good service in
warning many to secure their prize be-
fore they arrange how to dispose of it.
WeekLlI