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Mark it on the ice

Posted by Smokey Stover on March 05, 2008 at 05:05:

In Reply to: Mark it on the ice posted by Michael Garneau on March 03, 2008 at 08:57:

: My grandmother used to use the phrase "mark it on the ice" to mean that it would be forgotten (usually money owed to her). She had originated from Canada and immigrated at a young age speaking only French. She also used the phrase "pie-eyed" to mean drunk. Thoughts?

I've never heard the expression "mark it on the ice," but it seems appropriate and imaginative. I've heard of things being written on the wind, but that's too literary to appear often in conversation.

The only variations I've seen in regard to "pie-eyed" is the degree of drunkenness implied. But drunk as a skunk is much closer to the meaning than just tipsy. Think blotto. In the U.S. its use goes back at least to the beginning of the 20th century.
SS
The OED offers, as an alternative, a more literal meaning--eyes wide open, "staring blankly as a result of stupidity, exhaustion, love, etc." That sounds very logical, but not once have I actually heard it used in this sense (although the OED cites examples).
SS

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