Expressions – you hear them all the time. They’re those pesky figures of speech that everyone says but no one knows where they came from. And sometimes, when you really sit there and think about them – they’re kind of weird.
Here’s some that are on my mind:
EXPRESSION: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
MEANING: It is possible to achieve the same end through various means.
EXAMPLE: “Hey Fred!” Pete said. “I ran out of glue and now I can’t finish my collage of 17th Century Prussian Warlords! What the hell should I do know?”
Pete stroked his beard in a thoughtful manner and replied, “Why don’t you try some chewed up Grape Bubbalicious? After all, there’s more than one way to skin a cat!”
COMMENTARY: When you think about it, this expression is sick. Apparently, based on the expression’s continued existence in the modern lexicon, there was at one point in the world’s history a booming cat skinning operation. Whether people skinned cats for industrious profit or leisurely sport I am unaware. Yet, cat skinning must have been prevalent at some point for people to have coined this expression.
GUESS AT HOW IT WAS INVENTED: Two cat skinners, 1 and 2, were discussing a vexing problem in 1’s life. 2 suggested a variety of possible methods of solving 1’s problem, adding “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” 1, a veteran cat skinner, keenly aware of and experienced in a wide range of cat skinning techniques, devices, and methods, knew instantly that 2 was attempting to convey the message that there was more than one way to remedy his conundrum. Thus, a new expression was born.
THE BOOKSHELF BATTLE EXPRESSION CHALLENGE – In an effort to motivate myself to engage in more bloggery, from now until Labor Day I will be consulting with Expression Scientists all over the globe to explain to you, the noble reader, not only how our most prevalent expressions were invented, but also, how they are pretty weird when you think about them.
Have an expression you’d like to see decompressed? Post it in the comment section below.
As always, thank you for stopping by. Stop by more often, will you? I’ve seen cholesterol numbers higher than my stats.
Bookshelf Battle 
The Writer’s Battle – Expressions
Expressions – you hear them all the time. They’re those pesky figures of speech that everyone says but no one knows where they came from. And sometimes, when you really sit there and think about them – they’re kind of weird.
Here’s some that are on my mind:
EXPRESSION: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”
MEANING: It is possible to achieve the same end through various means.
EXAMPLE: “Hey Fred!” Pete said. “I ran out of glue and now I can’t finish my collage of 17th Century Prussian Warlords! What the hell should I do know?”
Pete stroked his beard in a thoughtful manner and replied, “Why don’t you try some chewed up Grape Bubbalicious? After all, there’s more than one way to skin a cat!”
COMMENTARY: When you think about it, this expression is sick. Apparently, based on the expression’s continued existence in the modern lexicon, there was at one point in the world’s history a booming cat skinning operation. Whether people skinned cats for industrious profit or leisurely sport I am unaware. Yet, cat skinning must have been prevalent at some point for people to have coined this expression.
GUESS AT HOW IT WAS INVENTED: Two cat skinners, 1 and 2, were discussing a vexing problem in 1’s life. 2 suggested a variety of possible methods of solving 1’s problem, adding “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” 1, a veteran cat skinner, keenly aware of and experienced in a wide range of cat skinning techniques, devices, and methods, knew instantly that 2 was attempting to convey the message that there was more than one way to remedy his conundrum. Thus, a new expression was born.
THE BOOKSHELF BATTLE EXPRESSION CHALLENGE – In an effort to motivate myself to engage in more bloggery, from now until Labor Day I will be consulting with Expression Scientists all over the globe to explain to you, the noble reader, not only how our most prevalent expressions were invented, but also, how they are pretty weird when you think about them.
Have an expression you’d like to see decompressed? Post it in the comment section below.
As always, thank you for stopping by. Stop by more often, will you? I’ve seen cholesterol numbers higher than my stats.