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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Joe Hayes
Guest
1
2008/03/08 - 10:36am

My high school wrestling coach used to use an expression that I never really understood. If you were getting in trouble he would say "Your ass belongs to Joe Hayes!" just before he sent you out to run stairs or some similiar punishment. Any idea of the connection? In my searches I've found that there was an English soccer player named Joe Hayes in the 1950's but no reference to the expression. Thanks.

Geoff
2
2008/03/17 - 12:49pm

Sorry, no luck. I'm trying to track the origin of the same expression. First heard it used in mid to late 'fifties, so must have originated some time earlier, probably before the soccer player. Would be interested in finding out its source if the hear anything useful.

Guest
3
2008/03/19 - 6:39pm

Apparently, some other folks are trying to figure it out too.

Maybe it's rhyming slang; where Hayes rhymes with a word that has something to do with being in trouble or getting into a difficult situation.

Wow! This one's a toughy!

guest
4
2008/11/24 - 11:16am

My grandfather used to say this to me. No idea if it is true, but he said Joe Hayes was the name of the man that used to collect dead horses back in the teens and early twenties, so when he said it, whatever the circumstances, it meant you were dead. Not sure how you would go about researching it, but interesting story nonetheless.

Guest
5
2008/11/24 - 9:34pm

There was a boxer in the late 1800's named Joe Hayes who fought in the New York area. I have no idea what his record was, but if he was seemingly unbeatable, I can understand why a phrase like this would be created.

Absolutely no idea if there is even a connection though.

Guest
6
2008/11/28 - 11:39pm

Gets me wondering how many other expressions are out there that have obscure proper names in them. So quicker'n you can say Jack Robinson I fired off this note. What would you call such expressions? Eponymous idioms?

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