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Laumont Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary
Say Froggy Jump!
Hello,
I would like to know the meaning of the phrase "(when I) say froggy, jump". Does it come from a traditional children song or game?
I found it on http://www.wrensworld.com/froggyjump.htm . But I also found "say froggy" alone in different websites.
Actually I am trying to understand the sencond line of the following stanza of a poem by Harryette Mullen:
"sepia bronze mahogany
say froggy jump salty
jelly in a vise
buttered up broke ice"
I know that "jump salty" is an African American slang that means "to suddenly become angry". But I am still trying to figure out the possible meanings (and the source of) "say froggy".
I appreciate any feedback
Thanks a lot, Laumont.
I would like to know the meaning of the phrase "(when I) say froggy, jump". Does it come from a traditional children song or game?
I found it on http://www.wrensworld.com/froggyjump.htm . But I also found "say froggy" alone in different websites.
Actually I am trying to understand the sencond line of the following stanza of a poem by Harryette Mullen:
"sepia bronze mahogany
say froggy jump salty
jelly in a vise
buttered up broke ice"
I know that "jump salty" is an African American slang that means "to suddenly become angry". But I am still trying to figure out the possible meanings (and the source of) "say froggy".
I appreciate any feedback
Thanks a lot, Laumont.
Top answer
") All of these, of course, imply immediate and unquestioning obedience to the speaker, even at the risk of looking ridiculous (when imitating a frog). Oddly enough, I clearly remember the first time I heard the frog version of this expression. It was my mother-in-law at a family party, describing one of my father-in-law's cousins.
- ") All of these, of course, imply immediate and unquestioning obedience to the speaker, even at the risk of looking ridiculous (when imitating a frog).
- Oddly enough, I clearly remember the first time I heard the frog version of this expression.
- It was my mother-in-law at a family party, describing one of my father-in-law's cousins.
- ) I even remember being slightly confused - frog?
- What frog?
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2 Answers
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Although children play a game called leapfrog, I don't think this phrase is related to it, but merely a colorful riff on the rather boring expression, "When he says jump, you'd better jump" - "When he says frog, you'd better jump." Another version is, "When he says jump, you'd better ask how high." (And I suppose there are people out there stretching it still further with, "When he says frog, yo
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"When (I,you,he/she) say from, they jump" means that (I/you/he/she) have/has power and influence over others, so others are doing as you say they should.
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