A family of phrases/ suggestion

Posted by SR on June 07, 2004

In Reply to: A family of phrases posted by R. Berg on June 06, 2004

: : : : : : The pattern that interests me is:

: : : : : : "Let us make like a [noun] and [verb]"

: : : : : : Usually, the phrase arises on the occasion of departure or transition. There are many clever variants, such as

: : : : : : "Let us make like a bakery truck and haul our buns."

: : : : : : The question is: what is the original phrase, of which all the others are imitations? From whence did it originate?

: : : : : "Why don't you make like a tree and leave?" must be an early ancestor of this group.

: : : : This isn't a construction that's common in England. Is its origin in another language?

: : : I have a book with types of phrases. I'll have a look.

: : I entered "make like a *" into google and was presented with 32,000 pages. I looked at a bunch and they were all from within the US of A.

: : The strangest:
: : Lets make like a fetus and head out.

: "Make like a tree and leave" is a punning U.S. insult, heard among schoolchildren and probably others.

: Phrase Finder should compile a list if similar common sayings for easy reference in the archives. I was unaware that "make like a tree and leave" was an insult. I have only heard these used in a humorous way.
Others include:
make like horses*** and hit the trail!
make like a hockey player and get the puck out of here!
make like a whale and blow!
Any other suggastions or examples?