As I was growing up, my family had a couple of sayings I took for granted were universal, at least within my language. As I became an adult I have learned that these are not universal at all:

  • the ketchup effect. It is an expression meaning that when things arrive, they all arrive at the same time. Think of an old school glass ketchup bottle. When you hit the bottom of it, first there is nothing, then there is nothing and then the entire content is on your food.
  • faster than Jesus slid down the mount of olives. Basically a saying that implies that the mount of olives is slippery due to olive oil and Jesus slipped.
  • What you lack in memory, your legs suffer. An expression meaning that when you are forgetful, you usually need to run back and thus your legs suffer.

Please share your own weird family sayings.

  • memfree@lemmy.ml
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    6 months ago

    Not a family saying, but my grandad used this joke soooo often:

    Q: What’s the difference between a snake in the grass and a goose?

    A: A snake in the grass is an asp in the grass, but a grasp in the ass is a goose!

    My folks liked to purposefully mix metaphors, so instead of saying “The worm has turned”, they’d say, “The shoe has turned” and “The worm is on the other foot”.

    I’m sure there’s an origin somewhere, but since I don’t know it, the call-out for doing something particularly dumb was, “Why don’t you just ram your face into my fist?” (suggesting your stupidity was impressive, but not worth the actual bother of ‘punishing’ you for it, especially given you were probably stupid enough to punish yourself).

  • Philco@aussie.zone
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    6 months ago

    “Does a hawks arse pucker in a power dive?” When someone asked a question that had an unequivocal answer of yes. Similar to does a bear shit in the woods,

  • Zeratul@lemmus.orgEnglish
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    6 months ago

    DEGUSTIBUSNONESTDISPUTANDUM

    not sure I spelled it right, means “regarding personal tastes, there is no dispute”

    Also another good one, “moderation in everything, including moderation.”

  • dgmib@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    My mom used to describe a solution to a problem that worked well as “slicker than snot”

    Used that phrase in a work meeting once when I was younger and got the most eclectic mix of reactions ranging from, “ think I’m going to vomit” to full on LOLs.

  • emptyother@programming.dev
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    6 months ago

    You might already heard this one but I didn’t learn until a relatively recent internet meme that its only here in Norway that something being “complete texas” means its completely chaotic and messy.

    Also I’m using “what the fir forest” (“hva i granskauen”) as a replacement for “what the hell” and I have no idea where I’ve picked it up… Nobody else around me do, not even family. Works just as fine though against pain and annoyances.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
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      6 months ago

      complete texas

      I have distant family who moved to Texas. I will steal this, but only to give it away.

  • Peppycito@sh.itjust.works
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    6 months ago

    My mom used to tell my brother’s and I to eat vegetables that were longer than they are wide because it’s good for growing an ankle duster.

  • klisurovi4@midwest.socialEnglish
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    6 months ago

    “watch the ficus” - telling somebody to be more careful after they do something clumsy like tripping or nearly dropping something. I used it in front of some friends once and got confused looks. Apparently grandma used to have a potted ficus tree and used to tell me to watch it when I was playing close to it, so it stuck as a saying in the family.

  • Cagi@lemmy.ca
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    6 months ago

    A Dutch one I got from my Oma: “It’s as if the angels upon my tongue have pissed”. It means “yum”.

  • eezeebee@lemmy.caEnglish
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    6 months ago

    Not really a saying, but when I was a kid I wanted to learn how to whistle so badly. I was told that if I ate pickles it would help me learn faster? I didn’t eat any, and I still figured it out eventually.

  • 9point6@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Funny my grandad had a little rhyme related to your ketchup effect:

    “If you do not shake the bottle, none’ll come and then a lot’ll”

    Clearly ketchup bottles have been a bigger influence on culture than we realised

    • illi@lemm.eeEnglish
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      6 months ago

      Shaking the ketchup bottle is a great pro tip. No idea why it works but it does.

      • Joe Dyrt@lemmy.ml
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        6 months ago

        Vigorous shaking mixes the thicker areas (where the sauce has settled) and the thinner (more watery) areas so they now have the same viscosity (pouring characteristics). Most importantly, this lets the mass of sauce slide cleanly down the bottle, helping the air bubble to also slide up in one unit at the same time, preventing the “air-lock” blockage at the opening. Important Note: Before vigorously shaking any container, ensure that the cap is truly secured! Now you are in control!

  • badhops@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    70’s kid my Dad says “wadda want eggs in your milk?” (still to this day)

    always said if you “upscale” something.
    Me: Dad I need shoes Dad: ok we will get some. Me: how about those Adidas like Run DMC Dad: Wadda want eggs in your milk too

    funny thing is as dumb as the saying is. My oldest child used it the other day when a person was trying to merge in front of him