While looking up the word thanksgiving in the dictionary, I stumbled on the phrase thank-you- ma'am.

n. A ridge or hollow across a road as to turn aside rain-water: from the sudden bowing of a person, caused by the pitching of a vehicle in crossing such a place. thank-you-marm"

Anybody ever run into a thank-you-ma'am?...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: goofball,

I have run into the etymology in one of Charles E Funk's books, but, alas, not a thank-you-ma'am in the wild.

I've seen it in the phrase Wham, Bam, thank you Ma'am!

The father of one of my childhood friends used to, upon driving over a bump in the road, would say "Wham" when the front tires went over, "Bam" when the rear tires when over, and "Thank-you, ma'am" when driving on. We'd always roll our eyes and giggle at his silliness. I wonder if it's all related???