Various phrases

Posted by Gary Martin on January 14, 2010 at 12:04

In Reply to: Various phrases posted by Gary Martin on January 14, 2010 at 11:49:

: The Readers' Digest have asked me if I know the origin of these phrases:

: "He couldn't stop a pig in an entry" (said of a bow-legged man)
: "Stop hanging the bag out" (stop messing around)
: "It won't turn into a pig's foot" (said to a child to reassure a slightly injured child)

: Right off the top, I don't. Anyone familiar with them?

Just for info. An entry is an alleyway between two (usually terraced) houses. That name is used in the English Midlands (and elsewhere?); 'ginnel' is used in the North.

• Various phrases David FG 14/January/10