A family of phrases

Posted by ESC on June 06, 2004

In Reply to: A family of phrases posted by Henry 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.

• A family of phrases Bruce Kahl 06/June/04
  • A family of phrases R. Berg 06/June/04
    • A family of phrases/ suggestion SR 07/June/04