Re: Quack
Woof
Posted by James Briggs on October 30,
2002 In Reply to: Re: Quack Woof posted
by TheFallen on October 30, 2002
: : : : : : : : : : As some of
you will know, I have a site where I've posted origins of as many phrases as I
can find. I get regular questions from around the world, plus suggestions about
origins - I've posted some of these recently. I thought you would all be interested
in the following message that came today.
: : : : : : : : : : "I came across
your site while looking up an expression that I heard this weekend at Churchill
Downs in Louisville, USA. On a behind-the-scenes tour of the track, our guide
pointed out a goat tied to a stable door next to a thoroughbred. She explained
the goat was present as a companion to an otherwise anxious horse visiting a new
stable. She said the expression "to get one's goat" derived from the dastardly
practice of a rival trainer stealing the opposing horse's goat and unnerving him
before the big race. ....I thought it was bunk, but decided to research it when
I got home.
: : : : : : : : : :
: : : : : : : : : : We only saw one goat
out of a couple dozen stalls, but she seemed to think it was not uncommon. Maybe
there's something to it?....though it may well be predated by (your suggestion
of) the rival farmer's milk cow production. Just thought you'd like to know. Thanks
for an interesting site."
: : : : : : : : : Wasn't there a sheep in a similar
role on the Sopranos a few weeks back?
: : : : : : : : That explanation of
"get your goat" has turned up here before and been discounted. See http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/3/messages/432.html
(link below).
: : : : : : : I guess that you think the 'offering' from the race
track is a wind up! I'm not so certain. I can see no good reason wht the fellow
should target 'little ol me' with spam. I prefer to believe that he saw what he
said he saw. Too trustworthy you say. Well maybe, but I always believe my patients/clients!
:
: : : : : I don't doubt that he saw a goat in the stable or that the tour guide
gave the reported explanation of "get your goat." What I doubt is that the guide
was necessarily correct about the origin of the phrase.
: : : : : : Yesterday
I had visited some goats, and the ones who said anything at all were saying "Baaaah!"
: : : : : Is this another example of US/UK differentiation? Our Brit goats
say "maaaaah", and only our sheep say "baaaah".
: : : :
: : : : In Korea,
dogs "quack". The Korean equivalent of wolf whistling is also quacking loudly
and appreciatively.
: : : This presumably is an evolutionary skill. Maybe the
dogs have learnt that, if they quack, they may be mistaken for ducks, and therefore
are less likely to end up as someone's Sunday roast.
: : I don't think so. Korean
cuisine includes dog.
: Err yes... hence the canine attempt at camouflage.
In a bitter piece of cosmic and tragic irony though, I'll bet the Koreans are
equally as happy to eat duck. Or maybe they only eat dogs because they think they're
ducks, due to the quacking. Oh never mind.
Oh dear! What have I started? However,
I've had a couple of good chuckles and learnt a bit. Thanks
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