Favorite farm life sayings

[wolc123]

I would like to know the background on that one. Jon

The first time that I heard it, was in the movie Rio Lobo (my favorite John Wayne movie). An old rancher (who was played by Jack Elam) uttered that phrase.

 

[Oz_Kioti]

A shoddy repair: Close enough for a government job!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

If it was a snake it would have bit ya!!! Said in the thickest southern accent you can muster.

 

[rontaki]

A shoddy repair: Close enough for a government job!

Or, horseshoes and hand grenades

 

[ponytug]

A shoddy repair: Close enough for a government job!

My grandfather used to say that about repairs, but with time, I came to understand that in his time, the government had so many specifications, that a job done to well enough for a government job was done with care, dotting "i"s, and crossing "t"s. I never heard him use it about a sloppy job, just jobs done with care. He did work for the government for a bit, which may have influenced his use of the phrase.

I know that most folks use it today in the sloppy meaning. Idioms do shift.

Good enough for government work and close enough for government work

Good enough for government work and close enough for government work are two versions of an idiom with an interesting evolution. We will examine the meaning of the idiom good enough for government work or

grammarist.com

All the best,

Peter

 

[David in KY]

"I'm busier than a one-legged man in a butt kickin' contest."

 

[repete]

He has a burr up his A-- about something or another.

 

[rontaki]

He has a burr up his A-- about something or another.

Or as I sometimes say, The aliens forgot to remove the probe.

 

[bmaverick]

Y'all sizing to git over here sometim' quick?

 

[masseyrider]

Me and your Ma didn't bring you into this world to watch you sleep.