This is probably not enough material for a post, but let's see where it heads. I have found that some of my better posts start off pretty much unformed when I first sit down to write.
I realized this past week that there are a couple of phrases I use (and maybe you do, too) that are very odd. When taken at face value, they are really kinda gross.
The first one: I WOULD LIKE TO PICK YOUR BRAIN ABOUT ________. Have you ever thought about this saying? I wonder how visitors to our country would feel about this one, if they have limited English skills. When taken at face value, this is actually somewhat frightening, no?
Yesterday, while we were swimming, I asked my nine-year-old son what he thought this phrase might mean. He had two possibilities:
- "Worse than picking your nose"
- "Being dumb?"
I know that "I would really like to pick your nose about this issue" will never become common parlance. If it does, I will be out of the loop.
The other phrase that struck me this week was "I WANT TO PUT A BUG IN YOUR EAR ABOUT ________." Yuck! Really? Why? Couldn't you just bring up an idea with me instead? Yikes!
I asked my son about this one, too, and he said simply, "Sounds like someone wants to put a roach in your hearer!" And yes, he made up the word "hearer" as he pointed to his left ear.
As I mentioned above, I use these phrases pretty often myself, and I never really considered them carefully until this week. Maybe I heard them both on the same day, and the juxtaposition was more striking.
I would like to suggest that we begin a new trend today. From now on, I am going to use the following instead:
- I would like to put a bug in your brain about (this new marketing idea, this issue, etc.).
AND
- I wanted to pick your ear about (something that has been bothering me, your opinion on what I should do).
The first one sounds very much like something from "Total Recall", which was a movie in 1990 with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. The second one just sounds unhygenic.
On second thought, I think I might even add in, "Could I pick your nose about this sometime?" for good measure.
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Jason,
My kids want to know why we park on driveways and drive on parkways!!! LOL, Thanks, Fran
"I have found that some of my better posts start off pretty much unformed when I first sit down to write." And that amigo, in my mind, makes you a writer... a very solid one, at that. That said, I'm going to go clean out my ears and sit down to the calming comfort of the UFC;-)
I think both of your alternatives are fantastic ideas. Let me know what sort of responses you receive. I think maybe you should leave old phrases as they are but combine them... "I would like to put a bug in your ear to pick your brain sometime..." See what sort of attention that gets you.
I always heard that you can PICK your friends and you can PICK your nose, BUT you can't pick your friend's nose! guess that's just the way the cookie bounces! cheryl- not to be confused with the ball crumbles Willis
Hi Jason :-)!
I love expressions like these. My son Max is very literal and after almost every expression we have to say, in an exasperated tone, geez, Max... it's only an expression! I remember I was driving and Jack was in the backseat. Of course he was... that's another story. Anyway, Jack said, you need to jump off at the next exit. Max screamed, "WE HAVE TO JUMP OUT AT THE NEXT EXIT?". We all yelled back... "GEEZ, IT'S AN EXPRESSION"!!\
Susan, too funny!
Cheryl, my little minions may change your mind about that. (LOL)
John, I agree...
Jason S, ;-D
Fran, don't you just love how kids have a funny way of noticing things... :-)
Thanks for the chuckle! Just wondering - have you ever read Bill Bryson? You'd like him. He thinks about things like you do.
Jason,
My favorite saying and one that I have used for a long time, when asked the question "Whatcha doin?", is "I'm fixin' to_____________"
Jason - reading this brought memories of Dave Barry columns that my mom and I used to read all the time.
The best part is ... your thoughts are also a refreshing mix of Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy and Ray Romano. LOL Very clever!
Jason, I was fixin' to write a comment -- saw Don Rogers comment and decided to leave a bug in your ear -- give me a call tomorrow -- so I can pick your brain about one last detail for the Austin AR Gathering/Jason Crouch B'day Party being held on Sat., Aug. 16th!!! :)
"dancing in the rain!!!" :)
Isn't it funny how when we stop to listen sometimes our kids make more sense then we do!
Pick your brain sounds to me like you want to barrow some part of it.
I have always said something like "I have a grape to pick with you." It makes no sense but people get it when I am irritated.
FRAN - That is a classic Carlin line. Thanks for stopping by!
SARDI - UFC is calming indeed. Thanks for your compliment. I am beginning to re-assess my future, and I may want to delve into writing on a more permanent basis. I appreciate the encouragement.
you can PICK your friends and you can PICK your nose, BUT you can't pick your friend's nose!
I will rest easier tonight... LOL