Bite the bullet?

Posted by Bernd on December 08, 2004

In Reply to: Bite the bullet? posted by Lotg on December 07, 2004

Hi,

thanks for you trying to help me. I looked up the context. It´s from the book "Somewhere for me" (A biography of Richard Rodgers). On page 349, there is a story about composer Richard Rodgers not getting along with the husband of one of his shows´ star, Mary Martin.
"Richard Rodgers knew more about the theatre than he did, but Halliday (=husband) was always out there protecting Mary,", Anna Crouse said. "Mary was very smart. She´d let her husband bite the paddle and, when asked, she ´didn´t know anything about it.´

I guess it´s somewhat akin to "biting the bullet", just wonder whether it´s a typo or this phrase really exists... Can´t be a pun, neither rafting or anything similar fits in here somewhere (the show being discussed is "The Sound of Music").

Bernd

: Hi Bernd. I've never head of this before. A more common saying I'm familiar with is 'bite the bullet'. There's an explanation for that saying, if you enter it into the search field at the top, and browse the archives.

: But 'bite the paddle' is a new one on me. Perhaps if it was in context, it could have been the author deviating slightly from the original saying in order to make it fit the story. eg. Maybe it was said in the story while the character was whitewater rafting or something. --GODDESS

• Meaning of bite the paddle Keith Rennie 08/December/04
  • Meaning of bite the paddle TheFallen 08/December/04
    • Meaning of bite the paddle Bernd 08/December/04
      • Meaning of bite the paddle Keith Rennie 08/December/04