Posted on 11/14/2008 4:42:45 AM PST by Lucky9teen
In honor of Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day, let's look at a few of the more than three hundred up phrasings Merriam-Webster managed to collect. Those terms range from act up to bottoms up to (of course) loosen up and lighten up, to thumbs up and walk up. We're up to our neck in up words, and we'll tell you right up front that we've only got time for two up terms.
A defendant up on serious charges whose alibi is not up to snuff might find him- or herself sent up the river. Where is up the river from? That term meaning "jail" comes from New York's notorious Sing Sing prison, located in Ossining, up the river from New York City.
As for up to snuff: it's a dead end to assume the snuff in that phrase originates in the slangy snuff meaning "execute; extinguish." Something is said to be up to snuff when it meets an applicable standard or is considered to be of sufficient quality. What sort of snuff serves as such a benchmark? The snuff in up to snuff refers to the pulverized tobacco variously inhaled, chewed, or placed against the gums. Lexicographers don't know how this up to snuff metaphor developed, but it may have something to do with a high status once associated with snuff. Nuff said.
She must have very small areolae because that was a lot of terrain without exposure
"All your horizontal hold are belong to us!"
Someone took the time to create that art, well done, but sheesh, he's really not the messiah.
I'm asking you to believe in yours? What does that even mean? Our what?
I want to know why there is a pentagram and a unicorn on the kids’ page.
Ohhhhh, that is sooooo wrong! (I’m rofl...)
Ugh. I didn’t even click on that. The unicorn, well I can almost see that, kind of mythical like children’s fairy tales, but the pentagram?
Ask the driver.
you will get a bill from my doctor
i am still breaking ribs laughin at that!
I NEED HELP!!
call 911
i can’t stop laughin’!!!!!!!!!
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