Rinning like a mule eating briars

Posted by L Bullard on July 30, 2007

In Reply to: Rinning like a mule eating briars posted by ESC on July 27, 2007

: : Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "Grinning like a mule eating briars"? Is it of European, American, African, etc. origin?

: It sounds country USA to me.

In south Alabama/north Florida around the turn of the century it was in common use among my father's family. It could have an earlier origin, but if you've ever seen a mule doing this you have no doubt about WHY the phrase originated,