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I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 52 years. I subscribe to Dr. PM Forni's concept of Civility. I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, and San Diego. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy, and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader and photographer.

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Idiom and Metaphor

We all know what it means to get the "cold shoulder" from someone. (By the way, which part of the shoulder is the cold part?)
Shoulders, now that I think about it, really have their share of idiomatic presence. We've heard them all...

"Standing shoulder to shoulder"
"Putting one's shoulder to the wheel"
"Shouldering the blame"
"I've got big shoulders"
"Needing a shoulder to cry on"
"Being head and shoulders above the rest"

And everyone loves that 1962 hit "Shoulder Boy" by the Shirelles. What?? I went to far?

Have I left anything out?

12 comments:

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

thinking . . . thinking . . .

Can't come up with anything. But I have a pretty bad case of fried brains right now.

What started you on this interesting line of thought?

Jay said...

Let's see. Steven Tyler broke his shoulder when fell off the stage the other day. LOL ;-)

Lena said...

Head and shoulders knees and toes..

Off the shoulder

Head and shoulders shampoo

Stay off the shoulder

My favorite is shoulder boy!!

Lena said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Purple Flowers said...

I can't seem to be witty when my shoulder hurts. Waiting to hear the results from the x-ray. Now that's a real upper, isn't it?

Deblynne said...

Shoulder Boy, that's my favorite Thanks for the great perspective on all things shoulder

Cheryl said...

I like the way your mind thinks!

Rick Rockhill said...

how about Having a Chip on Your Shoulder

Gin said...

Carpel tunnel tends to effect the shoulder too. My favorite golf excuse is, "My shoulder hurts today!"

As far as idioms, I have a new puppy and none of us slept very well last night. But I'll give it some thought!

Hope you're doing well. :))

Gin said...

Oooo ooooo ooooo I thought of one!

How about the guy on the lam who keeps "looking over his shoulder"?

Okay...not the best, but it's all my tired mind can come up with.

bonnie said...

carrying the world on one's shoulders?

Unknown said...

You are too funny! Love this post.
Don't know the Shirelles tune, sorry! But I've heard their song "Soldier Boy"! lol :o)

(bythe way, I know I posted here the other day...where the he** did my post go?! hmmm...)