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You're a daisy if you do
Posted by Smokey Stover on March 28, 2008 at 15:59:
In Reply to: You're a daisy if you do posted by ESC on March 28, 2008 at 10:23:
: : What is the meaning and story behind the phrase: "You're a daisy if you do?"
: What country? I can report that in the United States there are several meanings for "daisy," according to Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, A-G by J.E. Lighter, Random House, New York, 1994. Page 554:
: A prime or superior example of its kind ; an attractive young woman ; and a mule .
I found ESC's report on "daisy" in its meaning of "a prime or superior example" especially interesting, because of its similarity to "Duesy," which seems to have succeeded it in that meaning. "Duesy" is a reference to the Duesenberg luxury motor car, America's classiest roadster (1913-1937), so well-built that you can still buy one in good condition second-hand, if you can cough up a million dollars or so. (An early model sold in its day for $6,500.)
The link provided below discusses not only the automobile, but the slang word, Duesy. Sometimes it is pronounced "doozy," but I have more often heard "Duesy," with the glide (or palatalization).
en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Duesenberg
