Popular Phrases.

[Elessar]

When people use certain phrases, do they really know the origins?

For example (for our Mid-West folks - cold as all get out right now), how many use the phrase "Freeze the balls off a brass monkey"?

What is a brass monkey?

In days of sail and simple cannon, by each gun was a tray, indented to hold cannon balls and made of brass.
The cannon balls were stacked neatly layer upon layer into a pyramid.

One of the properties of brass is that it is soft, and will expand and contract according to the ambient Temperature.

When it got very cold, the cannon balls would collapse due to the brass monkey contracting.

Thus - Freezing the Balls off a Brass Monkey.

[aboutime]

I remember standing four hours on the Quarterdeck, on the Mid-watch at both Little Creek, and the Norfolk Naval base.....many, many nights. And when it was so cold, with the winds blowin' off of the Hampton Roads bay...Our favorite saying was....
"It's colder than a witches tit, in a brass brazier out there!"

And it was. WEARING Dress Shoes, Dress Blues, and a Pea-coat, with a DIXIE CUP (White Hat).

That was before we were allowed to wear earmuffs, or any kind of a hood. Coffee became ICED coffee in a few minutes.

[Gunny]

I remember standing four hours on the Quarterdeck, on the Mid-watch at both Little Creek, and the Norfolk Naval base.....many, many nights. And when it was so cold, with the winds blowin' off of the Hampton Roads bay...Our favorite saying was....
"It's colder than a witches tit, in a brass brazier out there!"

And it was. WEARING Dress Shoes, Dress Blues, and a Pea-coat, with a DIXIE CUP (White Hat).

That was before we were allowed to wear earmuffs, or any kind of a hood. Coffee became ICED coffee in a few minutes.Sorry, but y'all looked dumb as Hell standing around dressed for dinner in the freezing ass cold :laugh:

My other favorite was the floating dock. On said floating dock is one hapless squid in his Sailor suit holding an M-14 he probably had no idea how to fire. Rain or shine, bobbing around on a giant wooden pallet, checking ID's :)

[aboutime]

Sorry, but y'all looked dumb as Hell standing around dressed for dinner in the freezing ass cold :laugh:

My other favorite was the floating dock. On said floating dock is one hapless squid in his Sailor suit holding an M-14 he probably had no idea how to fire. Rain or shine, bobbing around on a giant wooden pallet, checking ID's :)


I totally agree Gunny. But then. Next time you see the White House Marine Guards at the doors. Unless they are wearing LONGJOHNS. We all know...they are freezin' their butts off too! Difference is. They get relieved every 20 minutes. Navy watches on the pier, or quarterdeck are 4 HOURS.:salute:

Brrrrrrrr.:laugh:

[Elessar]

I remember standing four hours on the Quarterdeck, on the Mid-watch at both Little Creek, and the Norfolk Naval base.....many, many nights. And when it was so cold, with the winds blowin' off of the Hampton Roads bay...Our favorite saying was....
"It's colder than a witches tit, in a brass brazier out there!"

And it was. WEARING Dress Shoes, Dress Blues, and a Pea-coat, with a DIXIE CUP (White Hat).

That was before we were allowed to wear earmuffs, or any kind of a hood. Coffee became ICED coffee in a few minutes.

Ohh..and how did they experience that 'Witches tit in a brass brazier'?
Similar to the brass monkey:

http://97rockonline.com/its-going-to-be-colder-than-a-witches-tit-in-a-brass-bra-by-the-way-what-does-that-phrase-mean-anyway/

[Gunny]

I totally agree Gunny. But then. Next time you see the White House Marine Guards at the doors. Unless they are wearing LONGJOHNS. We all know...they are freezin' their butts off too! Difference is. They get relieved every 20 minutes. Navy watches on the pier, or quarterdeck are 4 HOURS.:salute:

Brrrrrrrr.:laugh:The Blues are wool. They are actually a good cold weather uniform. Hot weather not so much. Before spandex and all this fancy "base layer" stuff they have now, we would steal our wives pantyhose and wear them under our dress uniforms. Whatever worked :laugh: The extra pay you get for that Barracks duty isn't enough for me. I didn't join the Corps to play dress-up. I wanted to shoot something :laugh:

[Elessar]

The Blues are wool. They are actually a good cold weather uniform. Hot weather not so much. Before spandex and all this fancy "base layer" stuff they have now, we would steal our wives pantyhose and wear them under our dress uniforms. Whatever worked :laugh: The extra pay you get for that Barracks duty isn't enough for me. I didn't join the Corps to play dress-up. I wanted to shoot something :laugh:

In the late fall in college, Many football players wore pantyhose under their pants to keep warm.

Old-fashioned grid long johns left burns all over the skin from hits and scrapings.

[Polite Russian]

Hehehe.

Here are some our phrases from the army:

Don't put you fingers in place, where dog will not put it's dick
Paratrooper never get cold. He just feel fresh
Why Earth is rotating? Because Russian paratroopers pushing it. (push-ups are favorite exercise in VDV :D)
Soldier! Can't you feel it? The planet is stopping! Soldier, you need to save the world! Push the planet, push it! (optional command to do some push-ups)


Some "regular" phrases:
Boneless tongue - a person, who talk yoo much
Fear has big eyes - things, that we are afraid of are not so scary
Word is not a sparrow. If it flew out - you can't cach it. - Think, what you are saying
Bug is little, but stinky - too many problems from little thing
Strike the iron, while it's hot - Do not loose the moment
Golden hands - a person, who can do a lot with his hands
Cunning of fox - chicken's stupidity - I'm not smart. it's just you are stupid

[Gunny]

Hehehe.

Here are some our phrases from the army:

Don't put you fingers in place, where dog will not put it's dick
Paratrooper never get cold. He just feel fresh
Why Earth is rotating? Because Russian paratroopers pushing it. (push-ups are favorite exercise in VDV :D)
Soldier! Can't you feel it? The planet is stopping! Soldier, you need to save the world! Push the planet, push it! (optional command to do some push-ups)


Some "regular" phrases:
Boneless tongue - a person, who talk yoo much
Fear has big eyes - things, that we are afraid of are not so scary
Word is not a sparrow. If it flew out - you can't cach it. - Think, what you are saying
Bug is little, but stinky - too many problems from little thing
Strike the iron, while it's hot - Do not loose the moment
Golden hands - a person, who can do a lot with his hands
Cunning of fox - chicken's stupidity - I'm not smart. it's just you are stupid

We don't call it a boneless tongue but we got plenty of it here.:laugh:

Words are like bullets. Once you fire them, you cannot take them back.

"Do not lose the moment" -- Seize the day - Julius Caesar

I'm not smart, you're just stupid. That's pretty-much how we say it :laugh: