Geography and expressions

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There are various sayings that indicate a situation related to the weather. The one that comes to mind is "slow as mollasses in January". This works out fine if you are in the northern hemisphere, but the seasons are reversed down under. Are there southern hemisphere sayings that sound peculiar up north?

Jan Sand

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]There are various sayings that indicate a situation related to the weather. The one that comes to mind is "slow ... the northern hemisphere, but the seasons are reversed down under. Are there southern hemisphere sayings that sound peculiar up north?[/nq]
Some Poms have a celebration they call "Christmas in July".

-- Rob Bannister

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]There are various sayings that indicate a situation related to the weather. The one that comes to mind is "slow ... the northern hemisphere, but the seasons are reversed down under. Are there southern hemisphere sayings that sound peculiar up north?[/nq]
I don't know about that, but there seems to be a growing leftpondian tendnecy to call the Olympic Games "the Summer Olympics", which is odd, since they take place in winter, and include traditionally winter sports like football.

-- Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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sand (Email Removed) writes:
[nq:1]There are various sayings that indicate a situation related to the weather. The one that comes to mind is "slow as mollasses in January".[/nq]
I'm a bit late on this, having recently returned from vacation, and I realize that it's something of a non sequitur, but I can't help mentioning that in Boston, on January 15, 1919, molasses was clocked (or, more probably, estimated) at 35 miles per hour, and was responsible for killing 21 people and injuring 150.

The bulk of the devastation was caused by a "wall of molasses" at least eight feet high -- 15, according to some eyewitnesses -- which rushed through the streets at a speed of 35 miles per hour. It demolished buildings, literally ripping them off their foundations. It upended vehicles, buried horses. People tried to outrun the torrent, but were overtaken and either hurled against solid objects or drowned where they fell. More than 150 people were injured. 21 were killed.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/weekly/aa123197.htm

In another account of the accident I recall reading someone (I believe it was a witness) saying that he now knew what "slow as molasses in January" meant. It was "faster than a man can run".

-- Evan Kirshenbaum +-- HP Laboratories |In the beginning, there were no 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |reasons, there were only causes. Palo Alto, CA 94304 | Daniel Dennet

(Email Removed) (650)857-7572

http://www.kirshenbaum.net/

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[nq:1]sand (Email Removed) writes:[/nq]
[nq:2]There are various sayings that indicate a situation related to the weather. The one that comes to mind is "slow as mollasses in January".[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm a bit late on this, having recently returned from vacation, and I realize that it's something of a non ... saying that he now knew what "slow as molasses in January" meant. It was "faster than a man can run".[/nq]
It does make tarring and feathering seem quite mild in comparison.

-- Rob Bannister

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