Why I Hate English

Why I Hate English

William Crouse and Linda Farnsworth

ISBN 978-1-63903-528-1 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-529-8 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by William Crouse and Linda Farnsworth

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Letter A

Letter B

Letter C

Letter D

Letter E

Letter F

Letter G

Letter H

Letter I

Letter J

Letter K

Letter L

Letter M

Letter N

Letter O

Letter P

Letter Q

Letter R

Letter S

Letter T

Letter U

Letter V

Letter W

Letter X

Letter Y

Letter Z

Contributors Used in Publication

About the Author

William Woody Crouse

August 23, 1928–March 10, 2021

This is Living was William Crouse's life motto. Whenever he was with family and friends, you could always count on him saying, This is Living. He was a man that lived his life to the fullest and always encouraged others to do the same. Although he passed away at the age of ninety-two, before this book could be published, his lively spirit will surely live on through his family, friends, and this book.

Preface

This book was done over thirty years of collecting materials. It is for people who want to learn the underbelly of how we use our language in the United States. It is recommended for persons from other countries, colleges, and high school students. People who are interested in North Country sayings, particularly those who live in the Adirondack Mountains located in Northern New York State. Some things will have reference to the US Navy.

After retiring from teaching for twenty-three years, in the Adirondacks, I started thinking about how our language is very complicated for people who may be entering this country. So I thought I would write a book that defines idioms used within different areas in our country.

Introduction

A theology of idioms, some common, others seldom used.

Also included are North Country slang.

It took several years to gather and then organize the context of this book. The authors learned a lot from the work done, over at least thirty years. If you think you know it all, read this book. You may surprise yourself.

Letter A

To find a crack in one's armor—to find a person's weak spots.

Something that is up in the air—no solution to a problem.

It was a hair's breadth away—a near miss or a very close call; we just missed disaster.

To be blown away—in the military, to eliminate the enemy, or, our expectations have exceeded our hopes.

How do you like them apples?—a war term for hand grenades.

To twist one's arm—pressure to get to the truth of an issue.

To be brushed aside—we wish to just forget it.

To get ambushed—caught with no or little defense from all sides.

An airhead—person lacking some brains, leading to odd decisions.

Mother Nature does not care who you are—raging weather is not selective.

To pussyfoot about—to do things quietly. To pussy foot about—walk or talk softly with care, to not disturb others or to hide in your presence.

More fun than you can shake a stick at—sort of a nonsense type of a saying or warning symbol.

Shakier than a quaking aspen—wind causes this tree to shake; peoples' fears may cause quaking!

A street devil and a house angel (may be reversed)—like a bipolar person to have a split personality.

A candy ass—a nonaggressive personality; also bashful or laid-back.

To comb an area—carefully searches an area for evidence.

To have the wherewithal—the ability to get a problem solved using one's common sense.

Whatever goes around comes back around—some things that will return to even up the score.

They were a bunch of rotten apples—a gathering of bad people.

How are y'all—a Southern greeting to a group of people.

We have not seen you in a coon's age—a long time since your visit or we have had a conversation.

To blow off hot air—coal-fired railroad trains would release excess steam, also to release a person's tensions.

It was a sense of awe—persons with wonderment, reverence, or respect.

To grab ass—to harmlessly fool around.

It had no strings attached—an agreement that was final with no additions or subtractions.

To run amuck—to get very wild in word or actions.

Old age—is writing notes to yourself, then forgetting where you put them.

She had airs—person thinks they are better than other people.

In the North Country, it was raining again. People asked, How do you like the rain?—Answer: At least we don't have to shovel it!

Some tourist asked, How do you know in the woods when summer ends?—When it's time to put the insect repellant away.

To bet your ass—to wager everything like all in.

The pine tree says to the maple tree, Don't be an ash.

One who walks on air—their activities are not very worthy and often end in failure, like a dreamer.

The deer skittered away—the animal ran away with stealth.

Too blow smoke up someone's ass—to lie or cheat one by deception.

To have a cameo appearance—in a movie to have a guest part.

To haul ass—to move fast or getaway.

He couldn't cut the mustard anymore—he cannot do things when older; for example, sex.

In the doctor's office, his advice—Because of your condition, you must stop drinking and smoking, having sex. The patient responds, Just take a gun and shoot me in the heart.

To get squared away—a naval term to get everything in order and straighten things out, probably a reference to squaring the sails on a ship or the famous square knot.

He was always ready, willing, and able—what every employer looks for in an employee.

Never grow on your face what grows wild on your ass.

To be chopped alive—cut up verbally and not liked by some people.

He was all over hell's half acre—a really bad situation.

Under good advice—if a dog pees on your sandcastle, start over again.

To be half-assed—people who only work with 50 percent efficiency, probably lazy.

Nothing to sneeze at—it means something of insignificance.

Just a hop and skip away—something very nearby or close to one.

To have a bit of alcohol—simply to take a large-size drink.

To shoot a hole in your alibi—to prove what you say is a bold-faced lie.

He disappeared into thin air—a person vanished with no available evidence of why or where he went.

That is something to write home about—an unusual happening.

I don't want to get snockered again—possible scam or they're involved or just fooling.

Death smiles on us all—all you can do is smile back.

The Goldilocks effect—the best of all things; life is great!

Leave now, but don't let the door hit you in the ass—leave now you are not welcome.

It was called the Big Apple—an old name for New York City; possibly the name for a racehorse.

That was awesome—that is great or amazing.

It will take your breath away—telling them something that is unbelievable.

Don't be a crab apple—a grouchy person.

It was a shot in their arm—a great aid in performance.

Don't horse around—stop this nonsense and now settle down.

Just as sure as God made little green apples—some things may look good but are not always edible.

They are going to salt it away—to save money by banking or hiding valuables.

Old adage—finders keepers; losers weepers!

It was bantered about—it was talked about.

To waffle about—to be indecisive; they can't make up their minds.

Everything is A-Okay—no problem, all is well.

He was a straight arrow—a good guy with all worthwhile assets.

To have a Pollyanna attitude—to have an optimistic personality.

It happened to be an albatross—an ungainly situation that doesn't quite fit.

We must give it our all—it will take maximum effort to get the job done.

That's worth shouting about—it is good news.

Skinned alive—an extreme punishment for doing wrong either physical or verbal.

They were eating me alive—blood-sucking insects (like mosquitos) will bite until satisfied.

See you later alligator—It's used to comically say good-bye.

In sport activities—winners laugh and losers weep.

Given in a hospital the DCB award—don't come back award.

He played the devil's advocate—to take the opposite in an argument, just to look at all possibilities or irritate the opposition.

I don't give a rat's ass—to not care about the situation.

To be a sore ass—a hard loser.

It was nothing to write home about—his believes were a little consequence.

To forge ahead—to move ahead against much opposition.

He was torn apart—to be injured physically or psychologically by a severe event.

That was right up your alley—it is something that I am good at doing, no problems.

He was a pain in the ass—one who irritates others with his attitude.

No advice is often bad advice—in trouble, get counsel.

To be living alone—if you argue with yourself, you're bound to win.

What comes around goes around—whatever you did in the past will catch up with you.

The case was airtight—the evidence was irrefutable of one's guilt.

Let's plug away—to keep working hard for success.

He was a straight arrow—a person who is honest and follows the written rules.

That's right up my alley—it was just what I was looking for.

That was a kick in the ass—due to what is shown, there isn't much value in what is said.

He gave them a stiff arm—pushing to avoid paying his account.

The brandish a firearm—to scare someone into compliance (obey).

It was a cut above—just doing what is expected.

She was a know-it-all—a shallow person who promotes herself.

Opposites seldom attract one another—this could harm a relationship.

He was a piss ant—a low-life person with many defects, often hated by others.

To be a know it all—they think they know everything.

Letter B

To stop the bleeding—to halt waste; or human's pain to us or others.

She has been around the block—a person who has had a lot of experience in all aspects of life.

Looking into the abyss—to see what others think of us, and we examine ourselves with a mirror effect.

He walked to his own beat—a person apart from the majority of humanity.

To shoot the breeze—to talk with others about others.

To be called a yard bird—a new Army recruit with no rank and no authority.

To be behind the eight ball—in pool, a blocked shot; in life, a problem that is most likely unsolvable.

To be on the bubble—a shaky situation, person may win or lose.

To pull a boner—to make a stupid mistake.

To nip it in the bud—to stop something from expanding or even getting started.

To let the cat out of the bag—a secret is unexpected that may have major effects on persons.

To pop one's handle bars—a person high on drugs.

A pork barrel—political situation, legislators through influence get money or favors for their constituents.

A watched pot never boils—probably true and expectations seems to lengthen time.

He could not hit the broadside of a barn—almost impossible to miss.

To live in the boondocks—back woods remote people.

To go to hell in a hand basket—a person slipping into sin; probably not going to the great beyond after passing on.

They had a lot of baggage—persons with a past that reflects poor judgment.

To spill the beans—to expose or talk about secrets.

To burn your bridges—to forget one's past and go forward.

A dirty bird—one who fouls his own nest.

To let bygones be bygones—to forget the past.

As dawn breaks—early morning is the start of a better day.

To be outside the box—to direct one's thinking in a new direction.

He was a gas bag—a politician with the gift of talk (gab).

To slap one's back—a sign of approval or affection.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush—one is sometimes better than none.

To welch on a bet—to not pay when you lose.

To bring home the bacon—in old times, meat was a priority, a sign of wealth, to greet visitors with meat hanging up to dry.

That is one for the book—something that