Post by kidandloufan on Sept 9, 2009 11:33:40 GMT -5
How to Speak Cowboy
Ø Ace-high ~ first class, respected
Ø According to Hoyle ~ correct, by the book
Ø A hog-killin’ time ~ a real good time “We went to the fandango and had us a hog-killin’ time.”
Ø All down but nine ~ missed the point, not understood (reference to missing all nine pins at bowling)
Ø Bear sign ~ cowboy term for donuts. A cook who could and would make them was highly regarded.
Ø Beat the devil around stump ~ to grade responsibility or a difficult task. “Quit beatin’ the devil around the stump and ask that gal to marry you.”
Ø Between hay and grass ~ neither man nor boy, half-grown.
Ø Best bib and tucker ~ your best clothes “There’s a dance Saturday so put on your best bib and tucker.”
Ø California widow ~ woman separated from her husband, but not divorced (From when pioneer men went West, leaving their wives to follow later.)
Ø Coffee boiler ~ shirker, lazy person (Would rather sit around the coffee pot than help.)
Ø Crowbait ~ a poor quality horse
Ø Cut a swell ~ present a fine figure “He sure is cutting a swell with the ladies.”
Ø Directly ~ soon “She’ll be down, directly.”
Ø Dude ~ an Easterner, or anyone in up-scale town clothes, rather than work clothes
Ø Fandango ~ a big party with lots of dancing and excitement
Ø Fine as cream gravy ~ top notch
Ø Flannel mouth ~ an overly smooth or fancy talker, especially politicians or salesman “I swear that man is a flannel-mouthed liar.”
Ø Flush ~ prosperous, rich
Ø Get a wiggle on ~ hurry
Ø Goner ~ lost, dead
Ø Gone up the flume ~ same as goner!
Ø Heap ~ a lot “He went through a heap of trouble to get her that piano.”
Ø Hobble your lip ~ shut up
Ø Hold a candle to ~ measure up to
Ø Hot as a whorehouse on nickel night ~ damned hot
Ø In apple pie order ~ in top shape
Ø Jig is up ~ scheme/game is over exposed
Ø Kick up a row ~ create a disturbance
Ø Knocked into a cocked hot ~ fouled up
Ø Knock galley west ~ beat senseless
Ø Like a thoroughbred ~ like a gentleman
Ø Make a mash ~ impress someone “Buck’s tryin’ to make a mash on that new girl.”
Ø Mudsill ~ low-life, disreputable person
Ø Namby-pamby ~ sentimental, saccharin
Ø Oh-be-joyful ~ Liquor, beer, intoxicating spirits “Give me another snort of that oh-be-joyful.”
Ø On the shoot ~ looking for trouble “Looks like he’s on the shoot tonight.”
Ø Pass the buck ~ evade responsibility
Ø Pay through the nose ~ to over pay or pay the consequences
Ø Plunder ~ personal belongings “Pack your plunder, Joe, we’re headin’ for Santa Clarita.”
Ø Pony up ~ hurry up!
Ø Pull in your horns ~ back off, quit looking fir trouble
Ø Put a spoke in the wheel ~ to foul up or sabotage something
Ø Shave tail ~ a green, inexperienced person
Ø Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun ~ do it or quit talking about it
Ø Shoot one’s mouth off ~ talk nonsense “He was shootin’ his mouth off and Bill gave him a black eye.”
Ø Simon pure ~ the real thing, a genuine fact
Ø Skedaddle ~ run like hell
Ø Someone to ride the river with ~ a person to be counted on
Ø Stand the gaff ~ take punishment in good spirit “He can really stand the gaff.”
Ø Stumped ~ confused
Ø Take on ~ grieve “Don’t take on so.”
Ø Take the rag off ~ surpass, beat all “Well, if that don’t take the rag off the bush.”
Ø The Old States ~ back East
Ø The whole kit and caboodle ~ the entire thing
Ø Throw up the sponge ~ give up surrender
Ø Tie to ~ rely one “He’s a man you can tie to.”
Ø Twig ~ understand
Ø Wake up/Woke up the wrong passenger ~ to trouble or anger the wrong person
Ø Who-hit-John ~ Liquor, beer, intoxicating spirits “He had a little too much who-hit-John.”
Ø Wind up ~ settle “Let’s wind up the business and git on home.”
Ø Ace-high ~ first class, respected
Ø According to Hoyle ~ correct, by the book
Ø A hog-killin’ time ~ a real good time “We went to the fandango and had us a hog-killin’ time.”
Ø All down but nine ~ missed the point, not understood (reference to missing all nine pins at bowling)
Ø Bear sign ~ cowboy term for donuts. A cook who could and would make them was highly regarded.
Ø Beat the devil around stump ~ to grade responsibility or a difficult task. “Quit beatin’ the devil around the stump and ask that gal to marry you.”
Ø Between hay and grass ~ neither man nor boy, half-grown.
Ø Best bib and tucker ~ your best clothes “There’s a dance Saturday so put on your best bib and tucker.”
Ø California widow ~ woman separated from her husband, but not divorced (From when pioneer men went West, leaving their wives to follow later.)
Ø Coffee boiler ~ shirker, lazy person (Would rather sit around the coffee pot than help.)
Ø Crowbait ~ a poor quality horse
Ø Cut a swell ~ present a fine figure “He sure is cutting a swell with the ladies.”
Ø Directly ~ soon “She’ll be down, directly.”
Ø Dude ~ an Easterner, or anyone in up-scale town clothes, rather than work clothes
Ø Fandango ~ a big party with lots of dancing and excitement
Ø Fine as cream gravy ~ top notch
Ø Flannel mouth ~ an overly smooth or fancy talker, especially politicians or salesman “I swear that man is a flannel-mouthed liar.”
Ø Flush ~ prosperous, rich
Ø Get a wiggle on ~ hurry
Ø Goner ~ lost, dead
Ø Gone up the flume ~ same as goner!
Ø Heap ~ a lot “He went through a heap of trouble to get her that piano.”
Ø Hobble your lip ~ shut up
Ø Hold a candle to ~ measure up to
Ø Hot as a whorehouse on nickel night ~ damned hot
Ø In apple pie order ~ in top shape
Ø Jig is up ~ scheme/game is over exposed
Ø Kick up a row ~ create a disturbance
Ø Knocked into a cocked hot ~ fouled up
Ø Knock galley west ~ beat senseless
Ø Like a thoroughbred ~ like a gentleman
Ø Make a mash ~ impress someone “Buck’s tryin’ to make a mash on that new girl.”
Ø Mudsill ~ low-life, disreputable person
Ø Namby-pamby ~ sentimental, saccharin
Ø Oh-be-joyful ~ Liquor, beer, intoxicating spirits “Give me another snort of that oh-be-joyful.”
Ø On the shoot ~ looking for trouble “Looks like he’s on the shoot tonight.”
Ø Pass the buck ~ evade responsibility
Ø Pay through the nose ~ to over pay or pay the consequences
Ø Plunder ~ personal belongings “Pack your plunder, Joe, we’re headin’ for Santa Clarita.”
Ø Pony up ~ hurry up!
Ø Pull in your horns ~ back off, quit looking fir trouble
Ø Put a spoke in the wheel ~ to foul up or sabotage something
Ø Shave tail ~ a green, inexperienced person
Ø Shoot, Luke, or give up the gun ~ do it or quit talking about it
Ø Shoot one’s mouth off ~ talk nonsense “He was shootin’ his mouth off and Bill gave him a black eye.”
Ø Simon pure ~ the real thing, a genuine fact
Ø Skedaddle ~ run like hell
Ø Someone to ride the river with ~ a person to be counted on
Ø Stand the gaff ~ take punishment in good spirit “He can really stand the gaff.”
Ø Stumped ~ confused
Ø Take on ~ grieve “Don’t take on so.”
Ø Take the rag off ~ surpass, beat all “Well, if that don’t take the rag off the bush.”
Ø The Old States ~ back East
Ø The whole kit and caboodle ~ the entire thing
Ø Throw up the sponge ~ give up surrender
Ø Tie to ~ rely one “He’s a man you can tie to.”
Ø Twig ~ understand
Ø Wake up/Woke up the wrong passenger ~ to trouble or anger the wrong person
Ø Who-hit-John ~ Liquor, beer, intoxicating spirits “He had a little too much who-hit-John.”
Ø Wind up ~ settle “Let’s wind up the business and git on home.”