A Kentucky listener wonders about the admonition I’m going to cut your water off, which she’s heard from parents disciplining a child, but might also used between adults. The phrase “to cut someone’s water off” has been around since at least the 1930s. In the early 1950s, received a boost in popularity from country-music singer Toby Dowdy’s rendition of the song “I’d Cut Your Water Off.” Elaborations of this expression include I’ll cut your water off and take the meter out and I’ll cut your water off and read your meter. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “I’m Gonna Cut Your Water Off!”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, this is Amy, Amy Davis from Western Kentucky.
Hello, Amy. Welcome to the show.
Yeah, a phrase that’s come to mind when I was growing up, we would hear. I remember my aunt Donna Kaye telling my cousin this all the time. My parents would say this as well. They would say, we’re going to cut your water off. And usually it was used in the context of you’re doing too much. We’re tired. You’re not going to go here. You’re not going to go there. I’m not going to drop you off at your friend’s house. I thought that was such an interesting phrase. I’ve even used it with my own children.
Your Aunt Kay would say, we’re going to cut your water off to mean we’re going to stop your activities.
Yes.
And she didn’t work for the water board.
No. No.
And was it kind of a threat, like you better behave or you better straighten up?
Yes, it was always said with weariness and like, child, you’re wearing us out. We’re going to cut your water off. I’ve wondered if the implication was we’re going to cut off your supply. You know, as the authoritative figure, the parent, we’re cutting off your supply of transportation. We’re cutting off your supply of money. We’re cutting off your supply so you have to shut down.
Yeah, your supply of everything that gives you energy.
Yeah.
Yeah, that’s great. I mean, it’s a wonderful metaphor, right? Do that one more time and I’ll cut your water off or straighten up or I’ll cut your water off.
I’ve also seen a variant of this phrase that goes, I’ll cut your water off and take your meter out.
Now that’s serious.
And I’ve seen it as I’ll cut your water off and read your meter.
Yeah.
Please don’t.
Which means not only will you have no water, but you’re going to get a bill.
Right. Right.
But, Amy, it’s not just your family. This phrase has been around since at least the early 1930s. There was a musician in the early 1950s, 1951, a fellow named Toby Doughty. Did you ever hear of him?
No.
Well, he was an old-timey country musician. He had a TV show in Florida, and he had something of a hit in 1951 with a song called I’d Cut Your Water Off. I’d drink milk and buy you gin, then catch you drinking it with other men. If I were a plumber, I’d cut your water off.
Oh, my goodness.
Yeah, it was written by a woman named Dot Horner. I wonder what her hard times were like. This is terrible. Although, Amy, I really like your family’s usage of it, saying that to kids. I can just hear the exasperated parents. Cut your water off.
Well, with seven children of my own, I find myself saying that, like, there are too many sports. We are cutting the water off.
Oh, too many sports.
Yeah, taking the air out of the tires for sure. Turning off the Internet. Early bedtime.
Yes.
Amy, thank you so much for the call and sharing your family’s memories. I really appreciate it.
Thank you so much. I appreciate your show. It keeps me laughing.
All right. Take care now.
Good. Be well.
Take care, Amy.
Bye-bye.
Well, what’s the word or phrase that your family is wondering about? You’ve heard it all your life, and you just think, what in the heck? Where did that come from? Give us a call, 877-929-9673.
