“It is a cliche that most cliches are true, but then like most cliches, that cliche is untrue.”
Mr. Arbuthnot, an expert weatherman, was interviewed by the Sun Chronicle. His weather report is as follows: “It may become “steamy,” “sultry” and even “stifling,” but never “hot.” The temperature will soar, of course. It will set records. it will be a record-breaking heat wave. The average person will swelter, of course. Hence the phrase “sweltering temperatures.” They will also roast, broil, fry and steam. They may also sweat it out, but not in polite company. These people will seek relief by flocking, en masse to the beach, to the lakeside or to neighborhood pools. The roads to these places will be jammed, moving at a crawl and populated by exasperated motorists. For those who can’t escape, they will beat the heat by not going outside which will cause utilities to be strained, overloaded and working to capacity. This will cause scattered outages, perhaps, or possibly rolling blackouts.The heat wave will finally break thanks to pop-up thunderstorms and scattered thunder showers. Mr Arbuthnot’s final words to his audience, ‘It’s not the heat. It’s the humidity.'”
I figure you’ve guessed today is cliché day which reminds me of the best principal I ever worked with. His only imperfection was his reliance on clichés. I used to keep count whenever he spoke to the staff and sometimes he reached double digits. My mother always used to say someone had a tough row to hoe. When I was young, I had no idea what she was talking about. Why would anyone hoe a row? He’s a good egg was one my father often used. I knew my dad was complimenting whomever, but why a good egg was what I wondered. When I cracked open my first bad egg in Ghana, I totally understood. What I don’t get still though is why the farm metaphors.
Animals seem to be cliché targets. I’m guessing it is because they can’t complain. Somebody works like a dog, goes on wild goose chases, plays when the cat’s away, does something whole hog, waits until the cows come home, is stubborn as a mule and strong as an ox. My favorite is the straw which broke the camel’s back.
I slept like a log last night after burning the midnight oil. I woke up fresh as a daisy and happy as a clam. With the AC on, I am in the lap of luxury; however, today I turned older than dirt!
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: " "sultry" and even "stifling, " but never "hot.", "steamy, cliche day, flocking, good egg, heat, tough row to hoe
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
August 17, 2015 at 12:31 pm
happy birthday!!!! clichés drive me crazy,,,unless I am the one using one! so here we go…you’re not getting older. .you’re getting
oh.i just can’t…happy birthday ms kat from one of your older blogfans
August 17, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Thank, greg!
I thought my hint was subtle. Last year I came right out with it.
Clichés give me a chuckle. We all understand them and many of us use them but they have little or nothing to do with our lives. A hoe? Wild goose chases? I can’t even remember ever holding a hoe.
I am a bit older than my teeth!
August 17, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Despite the fact you are older than dirt, we still love you…Happy Birthday!
I will now alert the Dennis Fire Company as you light the candles…
🙂
Have a wonderful day!
Waving,
Coleen
August 17, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Waving right back from the flames!!
Thanks, Coleen!
August 17, 2015 at 12:49 pm
August 17, 2015 at 1:13 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I love this and now I want a red hat and matching red earrings like hers.
August 17, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Happy Birthday, Kat!
Unfortunately I can’t bring you flowers from my garden for your special day so I faked it and brought the flowers and some of my garden birds digitally to your little outdoor library. (I hope this photo upload link works.)
https://sdthumbs.ui-static.net/thumb/_/12.27318186.2.jpg?h=aPKd_yY3ty0DoY8454QL0w&e=1439935200&cmd=scale&height=360&width=545
Have a great day!
August 17, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Birgit,
What a wonderful picture. I love it all: the flowers and the birds!! That picture is a keeper!!
Thanks so much!!!!!!
August 17, 2015 at 8:57 pm
The bird on the knob is one of our robin fledglings when it left the shed for the very first time.
By the way, not to be unpolite but you mentioned “older than dirt”, there’s a funny birthday song with this title on the Free Music Archive:
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Curtis_Brand/The_New_Birthday_Song_Contest/Older_than_Dirt
August 17, 2015 at 9:13 pm
Birgit,
A pretty bird and how neat you got to watch it grow.
You are not impolite-much of that is either happening or is beginning to happen. Sometimes it sucks to get old.
August 17, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Happy Birthday! I hope Your day will be filled with cookies, cakes and lots of other delicious but unhealthy things to eat 🙂 I’ll celebrate Your birthday here by eating some chocolate covered dinosaur cookies 🙂
The factory owner where I work loves clichés and we all know he will go on for ever when he starts with “In the best of worlds” 🙂 The world of sports is so full of clichés that there’s no room for anything else when they talk, like Anything can happen, the ball is round You know 🙂 or I’ll just have a meltdown and get back in the game again 🙂
Weather talk is full of them here, like it’s raining small nails, thye snow flakes are big as toilet seat covers 🙂 I do like them but it’s best to stop when one is at the top as we say here 🙂
Have a great birthday!
Christer.
August 17, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Many thanks, Christer
I think every birthday deserves unhealthy things to eat. You enjoy those chocolate covered dinosaur cookie. I think any thing with chocolate has to be wonderful to eat!
Most people pepper their conversations with clichés and don’t even realize it. The sports page, as you’ve said, is the worst.
It rains cats and dogs here in a heavy storm. Jack Frost nips at our noses and ears when it is really cold. Weather clichés are fun.
Have a great evening!
August 17, 2015 at 2:38 pm
I’m in no position to be cracking *old* jokes or throwing around *old* cliches, so I’ll just let Midge, Kaye and Debra from The Pixies Three do the honors. From 1963, when you were… well, let’s just say “younger.” Love and best wishes for a very Happy Birthday.
August 17, 2015 at 3:01 pm
im6,
In 1963, I was very much younger!
This is a fun birthday song! I haven’t heard it before. Thanks, my dear friend!
August 17, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Hi Kat,
Clichés are useful and efficient as long as they are judiciously applied. A pile of them strung together would be painful. Some of the ones you listed are more like proverbial sayings or references to fables and stories. Playing while the cat’s away is one. Every time someone says strong as an ox, I think of Babe the blue ox.
I love Christer’s weather sayings and will remember to use them as soon as I have the opportunity. Especially the one about snowflakes as big as toilet seat covers. 🙂
My favorite weather cliché is “colder than midnight on Pluto”. I don’t remember where I got it but it was long ago when I was young.
Have a very happy birthday. Being older than dirt is quite an accomplishment. I shall celebrate it by consuming a Dove triple carmel ice cream bar. Perhaps I will put some Himalayan salt on it to further mark the occasion. 🙂
Enjoy the day.
August 17, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Hi Caryn,
I figure anything said enough times becomes a cliché no matter its origin. I guess my tolerance for clichés is long gone. I’ve heard far too many. Now my ears even wince (sort of).
I haven’t ever heard of your favorite weather cliché before this. I too enjoyed Christer’s, especially the toilet seat cover.
Thanks for the birthday wishes. I remember Kris Kringle saying he was just a bit younger than his teeth. I may use that one as well.
Yum, on the Dove bar!!
Have a good evening.
August 17, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Hi Kat,
Happy Birthday! My father used to say, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. I never understood that when I was little.
I always remember your birthday because that is when I met you. Was that about 8 years ago?
Birthday wishes,
Lori, and the crew.
August 17, 2015 at 5:14 pm
Lori,
I thought it was longer than that but I’m a bit hazy on that.
That cake one nobody used much. I don’t know why.
Thanks for the music and the birthday greeting!!!
August 17, 2015 at 8:30 pm
Happy Birthday Kat. I used to tell people that having birthdays was better than the alternative, dying young. Fortunately, I can no longer die young since I have gotten old. 🙂 Old age is always ten years older than you are now. I hate for people to call me Mister_____ because I look around for my father. He made it to 87 which seems really old. You are a youngster compared to me, I was born in April. 🙂
August 17, 2015 at 9:24 pm
Thanks, Bob!
As if you are so much older though I do tease my friend who was born in June about being so much older.
I never get used to ma’am. I always think I’m an extra in a cowboy movie.
August 17, 2015 at 9:58 pm
BTW It was not as hot today, only 99 degrees. Lower humidity makes it feel more comfortable. I also, look around when someone calls me sir. I have not been knighted.
August 17, 2015 at 10:04 pm
Bob,
That’s practically a cold front! A little breeze and low humidity makes for a lovely summer day.
August 20, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Belated wishes for a happy birthday week!
August 20, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Thank you, sprite. It was a great day and the week is a good one!!