A month of Sundays, meaning “a long period,” or “longer than I can actually figure out,” goes at least as far back as the 1759 book The Life and Real Adventures of Hamilton Murray. This is part of a complete episode...
When someone says they should be bored for the hollow horn, it’s typically a lighthearted way of saying they should have their own head examined. The saying comes from an old supposed disease of cattle that made them dull and lethargic, and...
The emphatic exclamation “from hell to breakfast” goes back to the Civil War. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “From Hell to Breakfast” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi there, this is Brad Davis calling...
“I don’t care if it harelips the queen” means “come hell or high water,” or “regardless of the consequences.” The phrase is particularly popular in Texas, as are such variants as harelips the governor, harelips the president, harelips every cow in...
Why shouldn’t it be a term of endearment to call someone a cherry Lifesaver? Cherry’s the best flavor! This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Cherry Lifesaver” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, how’s it...
One folksy way to take leave after a visit is to say, It’s time to put the chairs in the wagon. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Put the Chairs in the Wagon” Grant, I love collecting expressions of greeting and...