Re: Utterly
Deadpan
Posted by The Fallen on January 31,
2002 In Reply to: Re: Soft posted by bob
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.
... you're absolutely right, of course.
How foolish of me to have forgotten that all-time classic film "Last Tango in
Paris, Texas".
- Re: Utterly Deadpan Jim 01/31/02
(0)
- Re:
Utterly Speechless Mute Camel 01/31/02 (0)
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