In 1546, John Heywood published a book of English proverbs called A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue.
I do use "one foot in the grave" on occasion. Usually on my birthdays to highlight that I'm one year closer to kicking the bucket, biting the dust, and sleeping with the fishes, in that order.
The great thing is that I'll bring up one phrase, and then you (or someone) will have another, similar phrase like this, and then it's rabbit holes all the way down.
"Death warmed over" seems to have something to do with reheating food!
David, this one seems to have arisen in the eclectic world of ballroom dancing, where you were supposed to put your dominant put forward at the start of a dance. That's as far as I've gone with this one! Etymology is so cool.
Sounds like a really cool teacher. I had a few who had a very different outlook on things, and I think those are the teachers who made the greatest impact on me.
The older I get, the more I value knowing a bit about lots of subjects. General knowledge folks who have just learned by being out there have a ton to add to academia. If I had understood that sooner, I might have grown up sooner.... then again, I'm unsure if that would be a good or bad thing. Maybe learning and growing slowly is all right.
I do use "one foot in the grave" on occasion. Usually on my birthdays to highlight that I'm one year closer to kicking the bucket, biting the dust, and sleeping with the fishes, in that order.
Kicking a bucket with one foot in the grave could be a really interesting extreme sport.
Sleeping with the fishes would be an 18+ sport.
Could the fish be in a grave of some kind? It would make our expense ratio much more appealing to investors.
That's called economies of scale. Same location, more sports. Maybe we can even stuff the fish in the bucket.
Let's call the game "Grave Decisions."
Here's an overview of the rules (TM):
1. Start with one foot in the grave.
2. Collect water, a bucket, and dust cards to prepare for the journey.
3. Roll, draw, and sabotage. Move closer to the grave, gather tools, or block opponents.
4. Win by "resting in peace." Be the first to step fully into the grave with all required tools.
I like it, but I can't see the rules to the “sleep with fishes” mini-quest.
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death. Roger Waters
Don't use that one, but maybe *Death warmed over* is adjacent?
The great thing is that I'll bring up one phrase, and then you (or someone) will have another, similar phrase like this, and then it's rabbit holes all the way down.
"Death warmed over" seems to have something to do with reheating food!
... looking like
The musical group I used to perform with had a song called 'One Foot in the Grave, and the Other in the Custard'
That's awesome! Do you happen to have a link to a recording of the song? If so, please feel free to share.
Rather bizarrely I found one. It's probably worth warning you it's only 22 seconds long.
https://on.soundcloud.com/jvZUTWMdVN13gqzb7
I like it!
Cool!
We really enjoy the 2007 British Sit-Com “One Foot in the Grave” starring Richard Wilson as crotchety Victor Meldrew !
I almost mentioned this show! It's definitely the top cultural reference to the phrase I was able to find. This looks like a very fun show!
Hey Andrew, on a foot-related topic, do you have any idea how this saying came to be: “Put your Best Foot Forward” ?
David, this one seems to have arisen in the eclectic world of ballroom dancing, where you were supposed to put your dominant put forward at the start of a dance. That's as far as I've gone with this one! Etymology is so cool.
I had an anthropology professor who did work in a culture where there are degrees of being dead. Maybe they are one foot in the grave!
Sounds like a really cool teacher. I had a few who had a very different outlook on things, and I think those are the teachers who made the greatest impact on me.
I preferred the ones that had worked before teaching. Real world things to avoid.
The older I get, the more I value knowing a bit about lots of subjects. General knowledge folks who have just learned by being out there have a ton to add to academia. If I had understood that sooner, I might have grown up sooner.... then again, I'm unsure if that would be a good or bad thing. Maybe learning and growing slowly is all right.
Definitely still use it and hear it. However, I use it more now directed towards things other than people.
Interesting how things that refer to humans alone come to refer to objects!
I find your views very insightful and refreshing, thank you for posting 👍😸