fett on 26/9/2007 at 21:10
Quote Posted by demagogue
I remember a British friend of mine talking about another acquaintance that had gotten really upset about something, like he'd been mistakenly underpaid that month (maliciously in his opinion), and my friend said: Knowing that guy, he's probably gonna go see a man about a dog for something like that.
And I remember just blankly staring at him ... huh?
He's going to
what?
I get the idea, but anyone care to explain that one?
In that kids movie 'Finding Nemo' the dentist goes to take a piss and says, "I've got to go see a man about a wallaby." What the fuck?
demagogue on 26/9/2007 at 21:19
Well, to try to stab at a guess to my own question, and going off other things my friend said.
I gather it means to "excuse one's self."
Originally, this was like a euphemism to go to the toilet, and maybe that's how it's most used.
I remember hearing it in this context too, including that movie. That's what some google link says.
But I guess people use it more generally as a euphemism for someone that's excusing themselves to do something suspect or dodgy. Like, my friend meant that that guy was probably going to "excuse himself" to go and do something dodgy ... he's not sure exactly what ... key the boss's car, beat the crap out of him, or one of his pets, or just break into the office and get his extra money ... but something dodgy like that. And then later we'll see him coming back with a mischievous smile on his face.
We don't know exactly what he did, but that's a guy who's face is saying he's just seen a man about a dog.
Edit: But someone that really knows the phrase should tell me if that sounds right to them.
Kolya on 26/9/2007 at 21:41
Quote Posted by demagogue
go see a man about a dog
Flapper slang (1920s), meant buying alcohol/getting drunk usually.
theBlackman on 26/9/2007 at 22:03
Quote Posted by Kolya
Flapper slang (1920s), meant buying alcohol/getting drunk usually.
As in the old cure for a hangover: "hair of the dog that bit you".
Another few:
Take the lizard for a walk.
Trouser worm/snake
Watch the submarine races
demagogue on 26/9/2007 at 22:22
Also, sort of a quasi-euphemism story. I found out not too long ago that a friend of mine from high school has become a gay porn star. And he changed his name to Lane Fuller, his stage name, in the quasi-euphemistic way that porn stars do.
I told my mother that, a few days ago in fact, and she wondered aloud, but why would he change his name to "Lane Fuller"? What does that have to do with being gay?
And I started to answer ... but then thought, nah, there are just some things you don't feel like explaining to your mother. So I just shrugged like who knows these things.
Kolya on 26/9/2007 at 22:56
An euphemism that personally annoys me is the "reform" of German universities.
Short explanation: In order to bring German universities "up to an international standard" our local states' governments obviously deem it necessary, to let students pay about 919 USD per semester without an established stipendia system while meanwhile canceling professor positions high and low and restructuring studies to make them shorter and take away the students' freedom in what they want to study.
So in short this "reform" that is supposed to bring us to an international level means that the quality of studies which wasn't exactly high before sinks even more, if you can get into a course at all, while students now have to pay for the shit they are faced with every day. That includes non-existing basic equipment like computers, projectors, microphones, etc. Overcrowded lecture halls and incompetent, overstrained personal. Plus the rampant bureaucracy stays exactly the same.
All this is charged upon us by a generation who didn't have to pay for their studies, instead took the time to protest atom energy, abortion rights and the establishment in general and now they have the nerve to ask us why there's no decent student movement anymore. Why there's no uproar at the many inequities and not even at what's done to us anymore.
Mom, dad, we just can't afford ideals like you could. I don't know why. What I do know is that this country's education policies produce streamlined manager types without morals or ethics or even an opinion and god knows we have enough of them already.
Shug on 26/9/2007 at 23:45
Quote Posted by fett
Some of my favs are euphemisms for vomitting:
'The Technicolor Yawn'
'Cleaning out the vending machine'
'Snaking the pipes'
'Bumping the tonsils'
having a liquid laugh
parking a tiger
praying to the porcelain gods
Angel Dust on 27/9/2007 at 01:10
I think there's quite a few euphemisms for prostitution. I can only think of 'lady of the night' which kind of makes them sound like superheroes!
Shug on 27/9/2007 at 01:23
one would make love to a lady of the night
crunchy on 27/9/2007 at 03:23
In Aussie slang going to the toilet is "I'm going to see a man about a horse". Not sure of the origins but it probably means you need to conduct some private business due to the fact that buying horses in the early days of the colony was usually made illegally from a horse thief.
Anyhow, I prefer "I'm going to splash my boots". It's a bit more vivid. :ebil:
