Sayings: logical/illogical/translated

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

In the US, we rarely refer to a donkey as an ass. A donkey is a donkey. That's reserved for some uncle (possibly in his cups) who wears his ass on his shoulders on a regular basis, or some other person who is just a complete--well--ass! Oh, and often there is a "hole" after the word "ass". I am not sure why donkeys get such a bad rap since I know plenty of humans who behave much worse.

Oh, and I don't even know if they use the phrase "in his cups" over there anymore (maybe 1800s lingo), I think I read it in some novels though. It's not something used over here, that's for sure. I think in the UK they say "pissed" for someone who is drunk, but over here "pissed" means angry.

Edit: I missed a few posts before I posted this, LOL!

So what does the “in his cups bit” mean, do you add ass to that?
Pissed meant drunk but now it means both, with my generation meaning drunk and my son’s generation meaning angry.
Although we’ve always said “pissy” to mean your version of pissed - “They were pissy”
Fascinating isn’t it!

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

So what about phrases for being drunk?

I’ll kick it off with “Pissed as a newt”
Like that one because I didn’t know newts drank alcohol

 

[badjak]

Oh thats one that I see in books.
He was pissed, used instead of he was pissed off.
Pissed to me is drunk
Pissed off is real angry, annoyed

 

[Timenspace]

So what about phrases for being drunk?

I’ll kick it off with “Pissed as a newt”
Like that one because I didn’t know newts drank alcohol

Oh well. If 'newt' was known to me, I could comment

 

[Timenspace]

Drunk as a (wooden) board. We'd say. Or a plank is it?
A piece of wood that one can make a shelf out of...

 

[karadekoolaid]

“Pissed as a newt”

For some reason or another, we used "pissed as a coot"; probably because of the erratic way coots swim across a lake.
However, at Uni this was redefined as "kissed as a poot" - which meant you'd probably downed 15 pints!

 

[medtran49]

Never heard of pissed being used to describe a drunk. It has always meant very angry to me.

Drunk as a skunk, which I've never understood.

 

[JAS_OH1]

So what does the “in his cups bit” mean, do you add ass to that?
Pissed meant drunk but now it means both, with my generation meaning drunk and my son’s generation meaning angry.
Although we’ve always said “pissy” to mean your version of pissed - “They were pissy”
Fascinating isn’t it!

"In his cups" is an old English saying for drunk. Few people in the US would know unless they read it in a book.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Oh well. If 'newt' was known to me, I could comment

Salamander. Slimy small amphibious creature.

 

[CookieMonster]

Ohh thaat, sure sure. Thank you.
We use at times : "Better to prevent, than to heal "((or cure or repair ( more in the health/illness aspect))...
Hm I will reflect on other sayings in that sense...

another very similar:
"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

 

[SandwichShortOfAPicnic]

"In his cups" is an old English saying for drunk. Few people in the US would know unless they read it in a book.

Ah proper old.
Tight or tight as an owl means very drunk in old english too.

 

[TastyReuben]

“Pissy” here is slightly different that “pissed.” The latter is just angry, but the former is angry, and being whiny about it. Sort of like “b!tchy.”

The usual one here for drunk is shitfaced or sheeted, which is just a simpler version of “three sheets to the wind.”

 

[MypinchofItaly]

If you lived in the UK and hadn’t heard it I wouldn’t believe you

It’s often used as TR describes. Usually when somethings simple or works out easily.
Also often used to finish an explanation when the conclusion is obvious and doesn’t need finishing or you want to keep things brief.

He fancied playing on the stage, so he learned to play the guitar, rang his mate Dave Grohl and bobs your uncle.

So can we consider it like a sort of “et voilà!”?

 

[Timenspace]

Salamander. Slimy small amphibious creature.

You are so attentive, thank you. I actually googled newt while commuting. He is indeed both slimy and small.

 

[msmofet]

Pay the piper