Quack
Posted by R. Berg on October 30, 2002
In Reply to: Quack 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 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.
- Quack Woof TheFallen 10/30/02
- Quack Woof R. Berg 10/30/02
- Quack Woof Bob 10/30/02
- Quack Woof James Briggs 10/30/02
- Quack Woof R. Berg 10/30/02