Re: Soft
Posted by bob on January 31, 2002 In Reply to: Re:
Soft posted by The Fallen on January 31, 2002
: : : : As in
John looks like he could use a little geeing up. or Why don't we go gee him up?
Meaning to encourage and lift someone's spirits.
: : : : I have seen and heard
this used in the UK but not in the US. It's not in my American dictionary. I'd
like to know the origin of the phrase and particuarly the word itself.
: :
: Eric Partridge's "Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English" gives three
definitions for "gee," and the third one seems to fit, partly. "To encourage,
incite; delude . . . Anon., 'Dartmoor from Within,' 1932. Perhaps [from] 'gee
up!'"
: : : "Gee up" is a command to a horse: move forward, or move faster.
:
: : : Curiously,
: : : : Camel
: : Thanks for the info - does it happen to
to say whether the "g" is hard or soft? In the word I am thinking of, it's soft.
Maybe I'm thinking of "giddy up" which has a hard "g". Sorry to be a pain - I'm
begining to think I ought out and purchase Partridge...
: : C
: The g's absolutely
soft, and the word is pronounced "jee". If it were pronounced with a hard "g",
to "ghee someone up" would possibly mean to dip them in melted Indian butter,
a practice which I'll bet is totally illegal in the states of Idaho and Utah.
Not
so. Buttering some up is widely practiced in all states.
- Re:
Utterly Deadpan The Fallen 01/31/02 (2)
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