Taking a Possible Bath

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hello, this is Mary in Laramie, Wyoming.

Hello, Mary in Laramie. How are you doing?

Well, I am hoping that you all can give me some information with regard to a term that my mother, who was from Fort Worth, Texas, used frequently.

And that term is possible bath, as in take a possible bath, as opposed to a tub bath or a shower bath or a bed bath or a sink bath, a possible bath.

And what do you think she meant by that?

Well, in our family, it meant taking a bath in the sink and just washing off the smelly parts of the body, as in one foot in the sink, the other foot in the sink, under the arms, et cetera, et cetera.

So that’s what she meant by it, but I never could understand the meaning of the word possible.

And I only heard it, have only heard it in my lifetime, coming from the mouths of Texans.

Well, the expression is pretty straightforward.

There’s a saying that first you wash up as far as possible, and then you wash down as far as possible, and then you wash your possibles.

Okay.

Okay.

That is really interesting well Mary you’re gonna love this it’s not just Texas in fact.

If you take a look at James Joyce’s 1922 novel Ulysses, there’s a description of a possible bath in there.

Oh for heaven’s sakes that’s amazing how about that one of the characters talks about how she washed up and down as far as possible and somebody else says well did you wash possible.

I love it oh thank you yeah yeah it’s also in Maya Angelou’s wonderful book I know why the caged bird sings wash as far as possible then wash possible very good well thank you so much for doing the research on that we’re always glad to help thank you so much for your call Mary you.

You bet. Thank you.

Thanks, Mary. Bye-bye.

Bye.

What is the euphemistic or refined speech that you use to talk about difficult or awkward things?

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