Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ut-ngp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!ut-sally!ut-ngp!kjm From: kjm@ut-ngp.UUCP (Ken Montgomery) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Sayings Message-ID: <1183@ut-ngp.UUCP> Date: Sat, 12-Jan-85 01:29:29 EST Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.1183 Posted: Sat Jan 12 01:29:29 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 14-Jan-85 03:02:08 EST References: <1879@burdvax.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: U.Texas Computation Center, Austin, Texas Lines: 45 >From: wpl@burdvax.UUCP (William Loftus) > >Hello > > I few years ago I had a girl friend who learned Cantonese and >English as she was growing up; neither language was her first language. >She had two sayings that I never heard before: > > 1) That's the thing. > 2) Close the lights (meaning -- turn off the lights). > >Does anyone have a good explanation of where these sayings came from? >Are they used in any other part of the country or in other countries? "Close the light(s)" is also used in Spain. It is mainly a colloquialism from Madrid, although it is understood nationwide due to television. Curses can get very creative also: "Y tu padre en camison" (and your father in a nightgown) (or whichever item of underwear one would prefer) "Es usted un enano" (you are a dwarf) (this one is particularly useful in heavy traffic) There are, of course, numerous scatological words, and even more numerous references to sexual organs/practices/preferences. Are there any more native speakers of Spanish out there with whom to share sayings? South America must have some great ones!!! -- The above viewpoints are those of the author, and are unrelated to those of anyone else. Posting for: A. Albert Hernandez I remain, Ken Montgomery "Shredder-of-hapless-smurfs" ...!{ihnp4,allegra,seismo!ut-sally}!ut-ngp!kjm [Usenet, when working] kjm@ut-ngp.ARPA [for Arpanauts only]