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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
English in UK
If my grandmother had wheels ...
I am greatly interested in phrases like the following:
If my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bicycle.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped.
If my Auntie had bollocks, she'd be my Uncle.
If wishes were fishes, we'd never go hungry.
I believe that - although some of these may be in common use - may of such phrases are exclusively used within families etc.
Some are philosophical, some nonsensical, some jocular, some quite naughty. Most express (regrettable) impossibilities.
I would be very grateful for you to send phrases like these if you happen to know any.
You can either post them here, to the NG, or use my e-mail address (leave out: NOSPAMTHANKYOU): (Email Removed)
Thank you very much for your trouble,
Nico
If my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bicycle.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If a frog had wings, he wouldn't bump his ass when he jumped.
If my Auntie had bollocks, she'd be my Uncle.
If wishes were fishes, we'd never go hungry.
I believe that - although some of these may be in common use - may of such phrases are exclusively used within families etc.
Some are philosophical, some nonsensical, some jocular, some quite naughty. Most express (regrettable) impossibilities.
I would be very grateful for you to send phrases like these if you happen to know any.
You can either post them here, to the NG, or use my e-mail address (leave out: NOSPAMTHANKYOU): (Email Removed)
Thank you very much for your trouble,
Nico
Top answer
[/nq] The base for all of these is "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". This is a very old saying, and known to the great majority of the population (although they may not use it, in speech or in writing, they recognise it when they come across it). The others which you quote are comic variants on the original, and are very probably highly localised as you suggest.
- [/nq] The base for all of these is "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride".
- This is a very old saying, and known to the great majority of the population (although they may not use it, in speech or in writing, they recognise it when they come across it).
- The others which you quote are comic variants on the original, and are very probably highly localised as you suggest.
- )
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2 Answers
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At 18:06:31 on Mon, 14 Aug 2006, Nico (Email Removed) wrote in :
[nq:1]I believe that - although some of these may be in common use - may of such phrases are exclusively used within families etc.[/nq]
The base for all of these is "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". This is a very old saying, and known to the great majority of the population (although they may not use it, in speech
[nq:1]I believe that - although some of these may be in common use - may of such phrases are exclusively used within families etc.[/nq]
The base for all of these is "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride". This is a very old saying, and known to the great majority of the population (although they may not use it, in speech
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Nico napisal(a):
[nq:1]I am greatly interested in phrases like the following: If my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bicycle. If ... (regrettable) impossibilities. I would be very grateful for you to send phrases like these if you happen to know any.[/nq]
Here you are. There's a Polish saying which means 'If granny had a moustache, she'd be grandpa.' The original is "Gdyby babcia mia
[nq:1]I am greatly interested in phrases like the following: If my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bicycle. If ... (regrettable) impossibilities. I would be very grateful for you to send phrases like these if you happen to know any.[/nq]
Here you are. There's a Polish saying which means 'If granny had a moustache, she'd be grandpa.' The original is "Gdyby babcia mia
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