"Had the radish" means someone is in deep trouble (e.g. a teenager who comes home a long time after his curfew and his mother finds out, has had the radish) or something is broken or worn beyond repair (That old clock has had the radish.) The closest connection I've found is a French expression, "n'avoir plus de radis." Literally, I don't have anything but a radish, i.e. I'm flat broke. Broke, broken, in trouble, related, but not exactly the same things.
Can anyone provide more than my (un-)educated guess? Thanks!
The online slang dictionary says "have the radish" means reach the end of useful life. No explanation.
I've never heard theexpression before, but it "feels" like an old expression. Outright guesses: a radish is really cheap. It grows so quickly, you'd think it a weed. The word sounds a little like rubbish/refuse/rid-of.
vtscot said
The closest connection I've found is a French expression, "n'avoir plus de radis." Literally, I don't have anything but a radish, i.e. I'm flat broke. Broke, broken, in trouble, related, but not exactly the same things.
Can anyone provide more than my (un-)educated guess? Thanks!
Here is a guess: Since Maine and Vermont are just across the border from Quebec, a French connection is possible. If the expression is not more widely spread, that connection might be stronger yet.