14 Little-Known Origins of Popular Phrases. "I'm not dead yet!" "Swinging the leg" Victoria S Dennis 06/July/06 Dad was First Sergeant of his Squadron and I heard this phrase a lot growing up. It's believed to have originated in the American theatre scene in the early 20th century. His head and arms and legs were jointed upon his body, but he stood perfectly motionless, as if he could not . It just means "mind your please's and thank you's"! One explanation is that it originally referred to pulling the legs of a person that has just been hanged in order to speed up the process of asphyxiation and shorten the suffering. What does the expression "Swinging the lead/leg" mean and come from? 1 Samuel 25:22 This term describes a space without enough room to swing the cat namely a very small space. Now theres a whole thread in itself. That sounds sooooo Monty Python. In other words, 'it's all much of a muchness'. Sailors would usually receive punishment below decks. He had written this 'I remember Christmas Day 1914, I had been in the chains swinging the lead because I was that cold.' I have been reading my Great Uncle's life story, he was a sailor on board H.M.S. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The second version says that in 16th century England, houses had thatched roofs which were one of the few places where animals were able to get warm. Chalmers used this phrase - and the accompanying sentiment or meaning - in a poem titled 'Roundabouts and Swings', which was first published in Chalmers' volume Green Days and Blue Days in 1912. To swing the lead was considered an easy job and eventually . The expression 'He's swinging the lead' comes from days before sonar was used to detect under keel depth. Before the days of sonar, ships would determine the depth of the water by posting a sailor at the front of the ship with a lead weight attached to a long rope. They may be made of wood, metal, or synthetic materials, and may be padded or upholstered in various colors and fabrics. not the lead on a line origin as posted on your forum. : I was told once that the phrase "swinging the leg" was from nautical origin but was to do with the sick seamen having to swing a leg out of the bunk if they were alive but still ill? It comes from the days when depth soundings on ships were taken with a lead weight on a line. Last Legs. It's merely a colorful example of synecdoche, in which the part (swinging dick) stands for the whole (male). "I'm not dead yet!". The connection between this process and shirking one's duty is not entirely clear. Manage Settings If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. Tom says he can swing this deal with the bank, but I'm not so sure. Maybe they actually try to bring your inflated ego down. Allegedly (I add this caution because there is a HUGE amount of nonsense peddled about naval expressions) any sailor's wife/temporary female companion had to show her naked leg to gain the right to stay in the hammock. Oops, correction. not the lead on a line origin as posted on your forum. "I'm not dead yet!". A man was placed forward and swung a lead weight with a length of rope. Out of date meaning | out of date sentences | Common English Idioms #shorts. Its normally used in male-only contexts, like (formerly) the military, construction, etc. Chairs vary in design. This phrase comes from a play called The Birds by the Greek dramatist Aristophanes (c.448-385 BC). : That sounds sooooo Monty Python. Mickey is juvenile slang for penis in Ireland, not sure if its used in the same way elsewhere. The call to show a leg is usually . not the lead on a line origin as posted on your forum. I think that the following passage from the bible might be a possible antecedent of the phrase: 1 Kings 16:11 swing the lead malinger; shirk your duty. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. I heard it mentioned in No Country for Old Men (the movie). British informal This phrase originated in the armed forces and the lead in question is probably a sounding lead, a lump of lead attached to a line and slowly lowered to determine the depth of a stretch of water. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It was in common use when I joined the military in 1967, so Im sure its been around a very long time. "swinging the leg" Posted by Elaine Watkins on July 06, 2006 I was told once that the phrase "swinging the leg" was from nautical origin but was to do with the sick seamen having to swing a leg out of the bunk if they were alive but still ill? Let's meet with them and see if we can swing an agreement. Posted by Lewis on January 27, 2003 In Reply to: Last Legs posted by ESC on January 27, 2003: : Hello, I was just wondering whether any one might know the origin of the phrase "last legs". Swinging the Lead - (RCN) To work in a lazy manner. The first time I heard of the phrase was in the boom of the mid-1980s; I think it was one of the Michael Lewis books about Wall Street where the rich and successful brokers and deal makers, were referred to as Big Swinging Dicks; i.e. not the lead on a line origin as posted on your forum. We simply want to stop anyone swinging the lead. I think it has been around for a long time indeed. Find out all about Swing Leg : meaning, pronunciation, synonyms, antonyms, origin, difficulty, usage index and more. It means skiving, being idle, avoiding work. Strongest synonyms - 742 Words and Phrases for Strongest. I took it to mean any man who was alone or with another man or two. A chair is a type of seat, typically designed for one person and consisting of one or more legs, a flat seat and a back-rest. Thesaurus Air Force EPR and Awards. I was thinking about what that means and how I am suitable for the military because I hear it is a ride. The first explanation says that the origin of this phrase comes from Norse mythology, where cats would symbolise heavy rains and dogs were associated with the God of storms, Odin. you couldn't swing a cat in here/there. : That sounds sooooo Monty Python. In the movie, Moss gives the clerk at the hotel a bit of money to let him know if any swingin dick comes through the hotel (this was in the middle of the night). the goal of getting the ball into the hole ("holing" the ball) in as few strokes as possible may be impeded by obstacles such as areas of longer grass called "rough" (usually found alongside fairways), which both slows any ball that contacts it and makes it harder to advance a ball that has stopped on it; "doglegs", which are changes in the Posted by Trisha on April 18, 2005. The origin of the phrase is unclear. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Anyone else have the Google skills to find a cite? "Swinging, which is sometimes referred to as 'the lifestyle,' is a form of ethical non-monogamy where both partners consent to a non-monogamous relationship with agreed upon rules to keep the. 0%. Some believe it was adapted from the German saying "Hals-und Beinbruch, " which means "neck and leg. not the lead on a line origin as posted on your forum. That quote referred to a different king of Isreal. Winking Labia doesnt have quite the colorful ring to it as swinging dick. Asked by chris42. Winking Labia doesnt have quite the colorful ring to it as swinging dick. : It means something or someone is about to break down or give up. The swinging part probably suggests that the guys need to be on the run. And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. leg phrase. SWING THE LEAD. Thanks in advance for any information. Tom Heehler is an American writer and lexicographer, best known for his critically acclaimed reference work and style guide, The Well-Spoken Thesaurus: The Most Powerful Ways to Say Everyday Words and Phrases (Sourcebooks, 2011 -- now in its fifth . swing with (someone or something) hit out. swing 1. informal To make (something) happen or come to pass; to manage or arrange (something) successfully. swinging his stump of leg in the air, began sidling hippity-hop into the grass hut. Not quite the same phrase, but around here, sometimes Big Swinging Mickey is used to mean Big deal. DFG That sounds sooooo Monty Python. This phrase originated in the armed forces and the lead in question is probably a sounding lead, a lump of lead attached to a line and slowly lowered to determine the depth of a stretch of water. Like a large transport truck stuck in the mud. Definition of leg in the Idioms Dictionary. noun swing leg a leg at the end of a hinged rail, swinging out to support a drop leaf. Obviously this was before the troops went coed. In the play, the birds decide to build a utopian city called Cloud cuckoo land. Swinging the lead/leg. This is the one I was originally thinking of. CROCODILE TEARS The phrase "turn a blind eye"often used to refer to a willful refusal to acknowledge a particular realitydates back to a legendary chapter in the career of the British naval hero Horatio. It simply means that every guy on the squad/team needs to pitch in. Posted by Victoria S Dennis on July 06, 2006, In Reply to: "Swinging the leg" posted by Bob on July 06, 2006. : : I was told once that the phrase "swinging the leg" was from nautical origin but was to do with the sick seamen having to swing a leg out of the bunk if they were alive but still ill? No luck. The rope would have a knot in every fathom (6 feet). Then I got to wondering about narcissistic abuse and hazing and etc, I kind of think it is there as a punishment, or confidence building, like sea biscuit without ever being a champ. I wasnt around when that phrase was in common use. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Or in other words, he (David) killed every swinging dick in the place. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. So the Kirk got the savings of our Aunty Meg. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. The original poem is interesting not least because it cleverly employs existing . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Posted by Elaine Watkins on July 06, 2006. Prince Blake not the lead on a line origin as posted on your forum. Answer has 3 votes. Women, or men accompanying women (since their dick wouldnt be swingin, if you know what i mean) were not what Moss was looking for. The phrase occurs several places in the bible. I think the phrase predates that by quite a bit though. It's normally used in male-only contexts, like (formerly) the military, construction, etc. And they just get rid of people interested in combat at all? Just kiddingthe origins of this one are a bit shrouded as well. I hadnt seen the phrase pisseth against the wall before. Hence Epic Mickey being the funniest videogame title ever, from an Irish perspective. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 2. informal To cause (something) to have a positive or successful outcome. Origins and when it became a popular phrase? Continue with Recommended Cookies, In Reply to: "Swinging the leg" Posted by Elaine Watkins on July 06, 2006. : I was told once that the phrase "swinging the leg" was from nautical origin but was to do with the sick seamen having to swing a leg out of the bunk if they were alive but still ill? I saw it when I read Liars Poker about the authors days at Salomon. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. One folk explanation dates back to the time when local taverns, pubs and bars served up their patrons drinks by the quart and by the pint. I first heard the phrase in Oliver Stones Platoon (I know it predates that), and my god, it was the funniest thing Id heard in a long time. "That washing machine is on its last legs." . The origins of this idiom are actually rather simple. I checked Word Detective. What does leg expression mean? However, quarters were cramped, hence the saying, 'no room to swing the cat'. Gloucester , he has written another explanation for the phrase 'Swinging the lead '. The lazy leadsman would sit idly swinging the lead rather than actually getting on with the job. (At least the King James Version, which uses it six times. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Sae the Kirk got the gatherin's o' our Aunty Meg. Im fairly sure its military in origin but havent found a cite. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In Reply to: "Swinging the leg" posted by Bob on July 06, 2006 : : I was told once that the phrase "swinging the leg" was from nautical origin but was to do with the sick seamen having to swing a leg out of the bunk if they were alive but still ill? 1; Just one definition for swing leg . Only at Word Panda dictionary. COPPER The old word cop meant to grab or capture so in the 19th century policemen were called coppers because they grabbed or caught criminals. I want every swinging dick out here pushing! Thursday September 8th, 2011. The "swinging" part probably suggests that the guys need to be on the run. Are they crash-testing? View in context. I was told once that the phrase "swinging the leg" was from nautical origin but was to do with the sick seamen having to swing a leg out of the bunk if they were alive but still ill? My father used to enjoy quoting the phrase.). SWING THE LEAD - ORIGIN. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, What are the origins of the phrase - Every Swinging Dick. Read your Bible! : What does the expression "Swinging the lead/leg" mean and come from? lash out. Naval term. What Is the Origin of the Saying "To Swing the Lead"? Swinging the lead/leg David FG 19/April/05. A difficult and tiring task, so seamen would often be seen from . "Swinging the leg" Bob 06/July/06 They advertise being a manly man and then punish manly men machos? swing with. . The connection between this process and shirking one's duty is not entirely clear. Very interesting. So I wonder if the phrase may not only be used for laziness but because the sailors when they were on board ship used the chains on the ship to make themselves warm by swinging on them and called that swinging the lead. Now! Meaning* everybody* get out and push. In this context, although swinging the cat does not involve cruelty to animals, it certainly involved cruelty to humans who could be punished with lashes for what would be considered fairly minor offenses today. In the age of sailing ships this was done by dropping a line over the side of the ship with a lead weight fastened to the end. they felt they were self-important and had something to be proud of. Its normally used to convey a sense of urgency. happen across (someone or something) slash at. Where Does the Phrase Eat the Rich Come From. Anyone game? It simply means that every guy on the squad/team needs to pitch in. It was kind of serious scene but how I laughed. This is a nautical term and derives from a 'cat-o-nine-tails', a whip used to punish sailors onboard ships. Manage Settings When sailing close to shore it is important to keep an eye on the depth of the water. slash at (someone or something) Dictionary; Thesaurus; Blog; . Its merely a colorful example of synecdoche, in which the part (swinging dick) stands for the whole (male). Not enough room to swing a cat; A very small space. I think you're confusing this with "show a leg" which was the command given by naval petty officers in the morning telling the sailors to get up and to roll up and stow their hammocks. Harbourguides is the web's leading information portal for marinas and harbours across the UK and Europe.