Web Resource for Correct Sayings + Their Origins?

[Baker535]

I was reading the new Nintendo Battalion Wars website and I saw a phrase that struck me as odd...

"Chink in the armor"

I always thought it was "Kink in the armor" (my thought, referrs to a twisted chain mail or plate mail tied with leather straps)

Until that point the only familiar use of chink I've heard of was an offensive term, so I checked out the definition. It seemed like this saying was plausible and I've been misquoting this phrase the whole time.

The other saying I've always wondered if I was quoting correctly is:

"One trick pony" (my thought, referrs to a circus show)

I remember a professor of mine who use to say "One trip pony". I found that odd, but it seems it would be correct because of a possible pony express reference?

Anyone know which ones are the correct phrases? Is there a good web resource to look up these sort of things and their origins? I've never found one yet... common sayings get misrepresented a lot and the web is excellent about spreading good and bad information equally.

If anyone wants to add a good misquote, I'd love to hear what the saying was, thanks!

-baker

[ChadTower]

It always annoys me when someone tells me they did something for all intensive purposes.

Try all intents and purposes next time. 

[Stingray]

chink   n.
    A narrow opening, such as a crack or fissure.

This is the definition I always applied to that term.

FWIW, I've always heard one trick pony, but trip makes as much sense.

-S

[ChadTower]

That is a weird saying... it could easily be a single pony that knows tricks, or a pony that knows a single trick.

[JackTucky]

chinking (sp?) is the caulk used between logs in log homes.

Art

[Dartful Dodger]

The pony in Bachelor Party was both.
It had one trick, and one trip.

[Stingray]

chinking (sp?) is the caulk used between logs in log homes.

Art

I believe that term is also used for the gaps between the boards on a boat.

-S

[JoyMonkey]

We don't get French benefits?

[Ed_McCarron]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/index.html

I've used this one a coupla times...

[Bones]

If anyone wants to add a good misquote, I'd love to hear what the saying was, thanks!

I was watching TV last night and an insurance add came on. They were talking about home essentials, I was absolutely sure they said homosexuals.

[shmokes]

As much as one trip pony makes sense by itself, it doesn't make sense as it is applied to situations today.  People say that something is a one trick pony when it, essentially only has one trick.

For example, I might say, "The Forty Year Old Virgin turned out to be a surprisingly good comedy, although my low expectations may have worked in its favor.  I really went in thinking it would be a one trick pony." 

Some that I hate:

I could care less...
It's a mute point.
supposebly

My wife often uses "if anything" in place of "if nothing else". 
I've always said, "all of the sudden," and it should be, "all of a sudden."

[shmokes]

Oh yeah...another one that I see slaughtered all the time is when people say:

"fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. It fool me. We can't get fooled again."


 

[ChadTower]

Dude, that last one, do you work in a ward for head injuries or something? 

[Baker535]

Good stuff,

Thanks guys and I appreciate the website too Ed! That was exactly the type of resource I was looking for.  If anything else comes up feel free to keep adding or at least eventually throw some bacon in here.

-baker

[CCM]

Dude, that last one, do you work in a ward for head injuries or something? 

He was referring to our idiot-in-chief, GW.

There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once -- shame on -- shame on you. You fool me, you can't get fooled again.
    -- Dubya attempting to co-opt Texas and Tennessee into his verbal wreckage. The saying he was trying to dredge up was "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Even better, Dubya was speaking at a literature magnet school. I'm sure it was a learning experience for the kids. East Literature Magnet School, Nashville, Tennessee, Sep. 17, 2002

[Stingray]

Bush is smrt.

-S

[CCM]

plenty of misquotes and manglings to be heard here:

http://www.dubyaspeak.com/audio.phtml

[ChadTower]

Some people just don't speak well on camera or under scrutiny.

Not that I have any idea if he can speak well alone in a room with a cupcake on the table.

[Stingray]

Excellent site!

Speaking about the Oklahoma City bombing:

The positive news in this instance is the City of Oklahoma came together in strong compassion and decency and care and hope for those who suffered, and our justice system worked.

Hey cool, that has to make Oklahoma the largest city in the world! We rule!

-S

[CCM]

Some people just don't speak well on camera or under scrutiny.

Not that I have any idea if he can speak well alone in a room with a cupcake on the table.

I'd rather hear the cupcake speak...

[Stingray]

Another nugget!

We have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom, and America will always be faithful to that cause.

I think this may be evidence that he's taking his orders directly from Emperor Palpatine. From now on I'm calling him Darth Dubya.

-S

[ChadTower]

well, he sure acts with complete freedom.  The average American, on the other hand, is losing more freedom with each passing Congressional session.

[Stingray]

It gets betterer and betterer.

I'm also mindful that man should never try to put words in God's mouth. I mean, we should never ascribe natural disasters or anything else to God. We are in no way, shape, or form should a human being, play God.
    -- He managed to slip God in three times, but forgot to make sense, Washington, D.C., Jan. 14, 2005

-S

[CCM]

This one is great:

In terms of your Prime Minister, he's a -- interesting guy. He's a lot of fun to be around. He promotes, uhh, serious business in a, in a, in a way that, uhh, endears himself to people. And so, uhh, I think his presidency has been an important presidency for the EU during difficult times, and he's handled it well. And, umm, I was gonna say he's a piece of work, but that might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a piece of work?
    -- Dubya dons his "diplomatic" hat in welcoming Luxembourg Prime Minister and EU President Jean-Claude Juncker, White House, Jun. 20, 2005

[Stingray]

Listen, I, I, I wanna to thank, uhh, leaders of the -- in the faith, and uhh -- faith-based and community-based community for being here, we've got people who represent thousands of volunteers who are in the midst of helping save lives.

Just imagine, I've been living in a community-based community my entire life and I never even knew it.

-S

[CCM]

The relations with, uhh -- Europe are important relations, and they've, uhh -- because, we do share values. And, they're universal values, they're not American values or, you know -- European values, they're universal values. And those values -- uhh -- being universal, ought to be applied everywhere.
    -- Dubya goes "values crazy" in press conference with EU dignitaries, White House, Jun. 20, 2005

I value Dubya's views on values, universal or otherwise.

[ChadTower]

The whole situation makes me sad.

I wonder if Kerry would have been better.  He couldn't have been worse. 

[Stingray]

THat's why I voted for Kerry, pretty much assuming that anyone would be better than the "piece of work" that we have in the White House right now.

-S

[ChadTower]

I didn't say he would be better.  I said he could not be worse.

If you lived in MA, you'd be used to Kerry's sizable record of not having a record to stand on.  His response to something like Katrina would be to comment on how much more places New Orleans had for windsurfing.  The guy literally has done nothing for our state.  He doesn't even vote on the Senate floor very often, which is pretty much his only responsibility.

I don't dislike the guy because he opposed Bush.  I dislike the guy because he has been providing poor service to Massachusetts for years.  He's the perfect complement for our other Senator (Kennedy), who yells and blusters and takes up two seats by himself.  With all that Kennedy to shovel, what room is there for Kerry?

[shmokes]

Dude, that last one, do you work in a ward for head injuries or something? 

Thank you Chad.  God that's classic.  A completely untainted, objective response. 

[Stingray]

Dude, that last one, do you work in a ward for head injuries or something? 

Thank you Chad.  God that's classic.  A completely untainted, objective response. 

Laughed until I cried at that one.

-S

[DrewKaree]

It's a mute point.

I don't remember where I heard it, but I once heard "the point is moo".

My wife tries to give me an aneurism by often saying "by no stretch of the means".

[ChadTower]

And by the means, she means your sex life.   

[melarky]

It's a mute point.

I don't remember where I heard it, but I once heard "the point is moo".

My wife tries to give me an aneurism by often saying "by no stretch of the means".

I always understood it to be "moot point".  Check out http://www.answers.com/moot+point&r=67

[ChadTower]

Yes, that joke was a moot point.