In a thread where I made a big mistake, I had occasion to use the cliche, "knock me over with a feather." In the process, I went to a few Internet cliche sites, finding a lot of fun ones! One of my favorites come from England, "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"....hmmm!

Other favorites?

That's not from England. That's from Gloria Steinem.

My site said "England, Sandy", but perhaps that means a Sandy from England provided the site with the cliche. Sorry, wordnerd; I am sure you are right.

Actually I'm not positive Gloria Steinam originated that line although it definitely is associated with the women's movement. Specifically it is associated with a lesbian's point of view.


On an only semi-related note, the phrase "Grass doesn't grow on a busy street" is often used in regards to a woman who, let's say, enjoys life to its fullest and who, for whatever reason, shaves her pubic area. Being completely unaware of this aspect of that saying and thinking instead that it simply dealt with a person's front lawn, my 70+-year-old mother-in-law once cheerfully commented "Oh, that'll never happen to me. I get plenty of visitors!"

It was three weeks before we were able to stop laughing.

Hmmm... Maybe I'm an innocent, but I can honestly say that "grass doesn't grow on a busy street" has only been connected by me with guys (like me) who are, erm, follicly challenged in the area of the head. All the brilliant thoughts that pass through our brains burn off the hair...

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I'm not positive Gloria Steinam originated that line

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The Phrase Finder says

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Often attributed to Gloria Steinem. Other claims for origination point to Flo (Florynce) Kennedy or to an anonymous author who painted the slogan on a wall at University of Wisconsin in 1969.

Gloria Steinem had this to say in a letter she wrote to Time magazine in autumn 2000:

"In your note on my new and happy marital partnership with David Bale, you credit me with the witticism 'A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.' In fact, Irina Dunn, a distinguished Australian educator, journalist and politician, coined the phrase back in 1970 when she was a student at the University of Sydney."

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Thanks, arnie. Still, I wish I had been right about "Sandy". It just goes to show how gullible I can be (I wonder if there is a cliche for that!)

One of my favorite cliches for parents is: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." How many times have I done everything possible to get my kids to do something, but no dice! I did so want my daughter to join the math club in high school as she was an amazing mathematician. However, "Only the geeks are in that club, Mom!"

You can take a look around you
You can see what people need.
You can offer them libraries,
But you cannot make them read.

[I composed this after I had donated a pile of books to the Public Library in my old home town. Trying to make people aware of the folly of our current national Drug Policy.]

[This message was edited by jerry thomas on Sat May 17th, 2003 at 20:53.]

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Originally posted by jerry thomas:
You can lead a horticulture

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For those who may be unfamiliar witgh jerry's reference:
Dorothy Parker: "You can lead a horticulture but you can't make her think."

First year literature student: "Professor, why did Shakespeare use so many cliches?"

Now, how many cliches are actually misquotations? For example, "Ignorance is bliss" is only half the full quotation.

...as is "money is the root of all evil."

Ditto "Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

That one makes me mildly psychotic...

That one makes me mildly psychotic...
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Ah, so THAT'S what does it!

Hey, guys, how about posting the full quotes or the misinterpretations?

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Originally posted by Kalleh:
Hey, guys, how about posting the _full_ quotes or the _misinterpretations_?

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Allow me.

The love of money is the root of all evil

(The Bible - if you want a more specific ref. I'm afraid you'll need to look it up - I'm doing this from memory)

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.

Ralh Waldo Emerson

where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise.

Thomas Gray

I'll think of some new ones to add later.

Non curo ! Si metrum no habet, non est poema.

Read all about my travels around the world here.
Read even more of my travel writing and poems on my weblog.

[This message was edited by BobHale on Sun Jun 15th, 2003 at 2:11.]

Wrong: "Pride goeth before a fall."
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs xvi. 18

Wrong: "Power corrupts."
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.¹
- Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Dalberg, 1834–1902)

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¹His statement continued, "Great men are almost always bad men."
AHD manages to typo each of these sayings.

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Originally posted by Kalleh:
One of my favorite cliches for parents is: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."

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Favorite Joe E. Lewis quote: "You can lead a horse to water but if you can get him to float on his back, then you've got something!

Or, another variation, Stan Laurel's character attempting to at least sound thoughtful: "You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be lead."


(For those young and/or forgetful on the board, Joe E. Lewis was a not overly successful comic from the 50's. Did a few movies, known for having a very large mouth. I assume you're all familiar with Stan Laurel.)

Since he was British we jolly well ought to be!

Richard English