near the flagpole
adv.— «He explains Clem’s presence with an old military saying: “Even though you’re out of the military, you want to stay near the flagpole.”» —“The Blue Soldier: Supernatural Encounters in Fort Douglas” by Wynne Parry in University of Utah Daily Utah Chronicle (Salt Lake City) Jan. 11, 2002. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Suzanne in Tucson, Arizona, says her mother used to say the following to her quickly: Will you? Won’t you? Can’t I coax you? Aw, c’mon! You said you would! You think you might? You promised me! Won’t your mama let ya, huh...
Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm...