What’s the Word: Clich?s to describe downtown work
The big topic of conversation around town this week seems to be the closing of downtown streets as work is done to prepare for the Main Street renovation project. Now, I hate to let a chance to spout a clich? slip by, so I’m going to have a field day with this one.
I mean, the bottom line is that the city fathers are bound to get the cold shoulder from local citizens who are going to have a hard time painting the town red the way things stand right now. And even though they plan to pull out all the stops in an effort to get this project done, they can still expect to get the third degree before it’s all over.
Now, to be fair, this kind of thing only happens once in a blue moon, but one would have to agree those involved will probably consider it a red letter day when everything gets back to normal.
Hmmm, that enough clich?s for you? Anyway, since I spouted them, I should at least try to explain where they came from don’t you think? Okay, even if you don’t think so, I do. So here goes.
Have a field day – this one is pretty self-explanatory. One definition for field day in the Encarta Dictionary is: an opportunity for unrestrained or rewarding activity.
Sounds good to me. I’m having one now.
Bottom line – this one is all about money. In any kind of financial report, it’s the last line, the “bottom line,” of any report that nets out all the figures, so that’s usually where everyone tends to look first if they want the quick answer.
Of course, the way things are right now, the best thing they could hope for is to avoid getting kicked in the bottom line.
The cold shoulder – an unfriendly reception. This one has a food origin. Seems the shoulder of beef is a less desirable cut, so serving one’s guests a cold piece of beef sends out a pretty obvious message.
On the other hand, a good answer to the cold shoulder treatment might be, “Come on, what’s the beef?” Or, maybe not.
Painting the town red – this means to party and celebrate in bars and restaurants. Apparently this phrase originated with the Roman Empire. Seems Roman soldiers used to paint the walls of a defeated city with the blood of those they conquered. And they did it with gusto.
Ouch. Um, I’m going to leave this one totally alone. So as not to give anyone any ideas. If you know what I mean.
Pull out all the stops – to make every effort, to use all advantages. This one has a musical origin. In pipe organs each pipe has a “stop” that controls the airflow. When you pull out the stop, the organ plays at its loudest.
So do the car horns for that matter.
The third degree – lengthy and pointed questioning. Oddly enough, this one has its origins in the Masonic Lodge. Within the lodge there are three degrees. To become a third-degree, or Master Mason, one goes through intense, and even unpleasant, questioning.
Too bad they invented cell phones. You can use those in cars you know.
Once in a blue moon – to happen only on rare occasions. Interesting origin on this one. Two full moons in the same month are extremely rare, and a second full moon has come to be called a “blue moon.”
Wow, if this happened more often … well, I don’t even want to think about it.
Red letter day – a holiday, cause for celebration. Calendars typically have holidays marked in red ink, hence “red letter days.”
And there is one of those coming, trust me. On that day all the people that are giving the city fathers a hard time right now, like me for instance, will be shaking their hand. Happens every time.
Charlie Johnson is news editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].