American Idioms Have Gone Missing

Tags: English, Language, Idioms, Ben Yagoda
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joefromchicago wrote:

BaileyStapleton wrote:
Hey, Joe, I really hope you do realize that that show is not serious (for if you did, that would be, ahh, strange).

Does this mean there's no Ministry of Silly Walks? Oh well, I guess I'll just have to seek funding elsewhere.

Don't give up Joe. With proper funding I think you can make it really silly.

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McTag wrote:

Thay reminds me too, that to the British "Tommies" of WWI the town of Ypres was apparently known as "Wipers".

The British have a rare gift with foreign languages, in their ability to mangle them I mean.

Not only the British [actually every nation with a different language].

It's quite funny for me, how a certain place - at the beginning of the last third in this list - is pronounced abroad (re 'aspirated h[ache]'). :wink:

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Craven de Kere wrote:

Don't give up Joe. With proper funding I think you can make it really silly.

MR PUDEY: Well sir, I have a silly walk and I'd like to obtain a Government grant to help me develop it.
MINISTER: I see. May I see your silly walk?
MR PUDEY: Yes, certainly, yes.
(He gets up and does a few steps, lifting the bottom part of his left leg sharply at every alternate pace. He stops.)
MINISTER: That's it, is it?
MR PUDEY: Yes, that's it, yes.
MINISTER: It's not particularly silly, is it? I mean, the right leg isn't silly at all and the left leg merely does a forward aerial half turn every alternate step.
MR PUDEY: Yes, but I think that with Government backing I could make it very silly.

http://www.geocities.com/fang_club/silly_walks1.jpg

Ministry of Silly Walks

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American Idioms Have Gone Missing

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