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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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Make a sissy
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1
2009/08/05 - 6:50pm

I was watching the show "Dead Like Me" when one of the characters, Rube, on the show says he must 'make a sissy'. It was clear he had to go urinate, and the character is dated to be from a time long past... so an archiac euphemism for urination, was pretty clear.
http://www.indopedia.org/List_of_references_in_Dead_Like_Me.html

Clearly this wasn't enough to satisfy... please please please say you guys have more. Where does it come from? Why Sissy? I REALLY REALLY want to use this, but want a little more background first.

Ron Draney
721 Posts
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2
2009/08/06 - 2:59am

I assume it's imitative of the sound of urine hitting the porcelain. It's also the kind of term a prim, fussy person would use, which makes it especially funny coming from a rough-and-tumble character like Rube. (It just so happens I've been watching the "Dead Like Me" DVDs myself the last couple of weeks.)

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