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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
On Thu, 3 Dec 2015 11:50:46 -0800, Joy
wrote: On 12/3/2015 11:42 AM, Bastette wrote: MaryL wrote: On 12/3/2015 10:49 AM, The New Other Guy wrote: On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin wrote: you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the allusion is to some sort of international competition. Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend (who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother of a friend of mine could bore for Greece. In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc). And the reverse is, "He/she eats like a bird." The irony is that birds eat a great deal, proportionate to their body weight. Ditto on "bird brain." If someone calls you a bird brain, the correct response is, "thank you." Very true. I remember seeing a demonstration of a red-tailed hawk repeatedly dropping a rock on a emu egg to break it open so the hawk could eat what was inside. This is using tools, which is a definite sign of intelligence. Other types of birds do similar things that show reasoning and intelligence. Joy Seagulls aren't what I consider smart birds, but I've seen them dropping clams onto the cement walks in order to break the shells open. They obviously learned that behavior so they're smarter than I thought. |
#12
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
"MaryL" wrote in message ... On 12/3/2015 10:51 PM, Christina Websell wrote: "MaryL" wrote in message ... On 12/1/2015 8:45 PM, Bastette wrote: Tweed, you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. But maybe it's older than that? Or maybe you made it up? I'm curious! The phrase makes me think of World War II. Even in the US, many people had "victory gardens" at that time. I hope Tweed will give us the background of the phrase. MaryL It's about the Cat Olympics. surely you know about eating for Britain? Somehow, I don't. I have heard the phrase but don't know what it denotes. Unfortunately, I am not even familiar with Cat Olympics. MaryL Neither am I. Do tell us. Sylvia |
#13
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
"MaryL" wrote in message ... On 12/3/2015 10:51 PM, Christina Websell wrote: "MaryL" wrote in message ... On 12/1/2015 8:45 PM, Bastette wrote: Tweed, you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. But maybe it's older than that? Or maybe you made it up? I'm curious! The phrase makes me think of World War II. Even in the US, many people had "victory gardens" at that time. I hope Tweed will give us the background of the phrase. MaryL It's about the Cat Olympics. surely you know about eating for Britain? Somehow, I don't. I have heard the phrase but don't know what it denotes. Unfortunately, I am not even familiar with Cat Olympics. MaryL Sorry, it's a joke. There is no Cat Olympics but if there was, Boyfie would get the gold medal for the eating competiion, although Finland's entry, Caliban, would give him a run for his money. ;-) Judith has described what I mean perfectly. Actually, when the vet told me to stuff him with food after he lost weight, at first he was delighted. His dream came true. But after about 4 weeks of being presented with "any food you want, even Sheba" all the time, he said "absolutely no more food..ever" He regained his weight and he no longer moans about "is it time for food?" in case he gets more than he wants ;-) Let me make it clear that he didn't lose weight because I was underfeeding him, he lost his weight through the stress of having to fight a cat younger than him that was intent on getting into his house. Boyfie said no. He got beaten up badly but the other boy did worse and doesn't come here again. It's really peaceful now. Boyfie is not really a fighter but sometimes he can't help fighting a badcat that tries to get into his home. |
#14
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
"Bastette" wrote in message ... The New Other Guy wrote: On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin wrote: you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the allusion is to some sort of international competition. Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend (who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother of a friend of mine could bore for Greece. In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc). Sure, but what I particularly liked was the idea of eating for one's country. -- Joyce I can guarantee that if ever Boyfie was asked to eat for England nocat in the world would ever have a chance.. |
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
Seagulls aren't what I consider smart birds, but I've seen them
dropping clams onto the cement walks in order to break the shells open. They obviously learned that behavior so they're smarter than I thought. Quite a lot of predatory birds use that as a hunting method. The most famous historical occurrence of it was the death of the Greek tragedian Aeschylus, who was killed when an eagle dropped a tortoise on his bald head thinking it was a rock. (If I go back to Greece I think I'll take a crash helmet). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile 07800 739 557 http://www.campin.me.uk Twitter: JackCampin |
#16
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
On 12/5/2015 5:45 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Bastette" wrote in message ... The New Other Guy wrote: On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin wrote: you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the allusion is to some sort of international competition. Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend (who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother of a friend of mine could bore for Greece. In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc). Sure, but what I particularly liked was the idea of eating for one's country. -- Joyce I can guarantee that if ever Boyfie was asked to eat for England nocat in the world would ever have a chance.. Now that I understand the Cat Olympics joke (sometimes I'm rather dense), I will enter Duffy as the US entrant. He's always hungry, or acts like it. For a small cat, he eats a lot! MaryL |
#17
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
"MaryL" wrote in message ... On 12/5/2015 5:45 PM, Christina Websell wrote: "Bastette" wrote in message ... The New Other Guy wrote: On Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:22:51 +0000, Jack Campin wrote: you've sometimes said that Boyfie could "eat for England," which has always struck me funny. So today I used that phrase with a friend, also American. I added the disclaimer that although I'm not British, I've never heard anyone say, "So and so could eat for America." Anyway, my friend hadn't heard the phrase at all, so it got me wondering. Where did that expression come from? It sounds kind of like saying that Boyfie could win a gold medal in the Olympics if there was an eating competition. I think that's the idea. If not the Olympics specifically, the allusion is to some sort of international competition. Any country can be used in the expression. My mad ex-girlfriend (who had a colourful way with words) once said the (Greek) mother of a friend of mine could bore for Greece. In the US, it's "I could eat a cow", or similar large animal (horse, etc). Sure, but what I particularly liked was the idea of eating for one's country. -- Joyce I can guarantee that if ever Boyfie was asked to eat for England nocat in the world would ever have a chance.. Now that I understand the Cat Olympics joke (sometimes I'm rather dense), I will enter Duffy as the US entrant. He's always hungry, or acts like it. For a small cat, he eats a lot! MaryL No chance against the UK entrant ;-) It took 6 weeks of stuffing him (on vet's advice) before he said "no more" Tweed |
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
On Sat, 5 Dec 2015 10:39:33 -0800, "Sylvia and P2nya"
wrote: Somehow, I don't. I have heard the phrase but don't know what it denotes. Unfortunately, I am not even familiar with Cat Olympics. MaryL Neither am I. Do tell us. http://www.dailydot.com/society/cat-...colas-longtin/ |
#19
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
On 12/7/2015 3:39 AM, The New Other Guy wrote:
On Sat, 5 Dec 2015 10:39:33 -0800, "Sylvia and P2nya" wrote: Somehow, I don't. I have heard the phrase but don't know what it denotes. Unfortunately, I am not even familiar with Cat Olympics. MaryL Neither am I. Do tell us. http://www.dailydot.com/society/cat-...colas-longtin/ LOL. That even brought back memories. Years ago, my cat (the first one I ever had) was sailing through the air in pursuit of a toy mouse on a string and my brother-in-law said, "What a little athlete!" Thanks for posting. MaryL |
#20
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Ping Tweed "Eating for England"
Christina Websell wrote:
"MaryL" wrote in message Christina Websell wrote: It's about the Cat Olympics. surely you know about eating for Britain? Somehow, I don't. I have heard the phrase but don't know what it denotes. Unfortunately, I am not even familiar with Cat Olympics. Sorry, it's a joke. There is no Cat Olympics but if there was, Boyfie would get the gold medal for the eating competiion, although Finland's entry, Caliban, would give him a run for his money. ;-) I was going to say! Well, if there was a special category for eating cucumbers, he would definitely win. He regained his weight and he no longer moans about "is it time for food?" in case he gets more than he wants ;-) That's one way to overcome an overeating pattern! (Seriously!) -- Joyce If you can't operate your turn signal, what makes you think you can drive the rest of the car? -- bumper sticker |
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