Straight Up

Language never ceases to amaze me.  And I love to learn new phrases and idioms.  I heard this today at work:

A: What time is it?

B: Eleven straight up.

A: OK, thanks bud.

I'm sitting at my workstation looking for my cell phone to check the time and wondering if I've ever heard this expression before. So it's eleven o'clock... Well a new phrase for me. 
I don't think I had ever paid attention to the time being expressed this way. I can assure you that on the many books I used to learn/teach English (as a second/foreign language), this was never taught as an option for telling time.  I right away wrote it on a post-it so I would remember it.



I got home and told my husband that I had heard a new phrase. Of course he knew it, but he knows I get excited to discover and learn new idiomatic expressions. So if the minute hand on a clock is "straight up" at twelve, instead of saying it is (number) o'clock, you could say it is (number) straight up.  Now I just need to find a good situation to use it and put it in practice.

 

Second Banana. Part two (excuse the pun)

A while back I learned of the expression "to be the second banana: (part one here)  .   
I'm here to report that I was able to use it tonight.  We were at supper club (it was Thai night, if you were wondering).  I was talking to some of my friends about our plans for next month's supper club meeting. As our theme next month is Spooky Food, tonight we decided to also have a costume contest for the kids.  
We were telling Tiffany, who was one table over, about the contest.  She commented that one of her girls insisted and had her heart set on dressing up as a banana. She added that her other girl was still undecided as to what costume she wanted. 
Oh, she could go as the second banana, I replied. 
Jill sitting next to me burst out laughing. 

Perfect conversation, perfect timing.  
So there, I've successfully used  my phrase.

Second banana

So I like idiomatic expressions.  For a while one of my coworkers used to quiz me.  She had a idioms dictionary and would pick one at random to see if I knew it.

They sometimes jump at me when I'm reading. Many times I have heard them before and sometimes I have to look them up to see if they mean what I think they mean.  When I read  books in my e-reader most times I highlight them.  

 So I came across one yesterday that I don't think I had heard before: second banana. 

"The mayor cleared his throat and gave the chief a look: This wasn't a good cop, bad cop scene.  This was a star turn. Indignant second bananas were not required."   from: Nailed by Joseph Flynn Kindle Edition.  

Looked it up to double check the meaning as it sounded like another expression I've heard but needed to make sure. So I learned a new phrase. By coincidence, a few hours later, when I was watching TV they said the same expression!   Twice in one day!  

second banana n. Slang
1. One, such as an assistant or deputy, who is subordinate to another.
2. One who serves as the straight man opposite the leading comedian in a burlesque.

Now to really learn it, I need to find an occasion to use it and say it.  Most people would not even notice when I say it as it will fit the conversation, but I'll give myself a little pat on the back when I do use it.

'Till next one 

La Mexicana.

¡Aguas, aguas!

Aguas, aguas  is a phrase commonly used in Mexico to mean:  be careful or watch out!  It is more frequently used than “cuidado” (careful), it  is especially used when one is  immediate danger or about to hurt oneself.

I have been fortunate to run across many Spanish Speakers from different countries, and I have learned that this is a truly Mexican expression.  

One does not think about, one just blurs out:  Aguas, aguas. For instance when we see that someone is not paying attention and is about to touch a pot on the stove that we know it is hot but the other person does not, one may say:  aguas, aguas con la olla.  (watch out with the pot, don’t burn your self).  However, when you yell out aguas, aguas and other Spanish speakers look at you like you have lost your mind and they have no idea why you are talking about water. Plus they get mat at you for not warning them and they begin to believe you are a crazy Mexican.

I remember that one time I called my Salvadorian friend Pancho and left him a message on the answering machine:  Aguas, aguas, "Party Girl" is here!!! I thought I was doing my friendly duty to warn him.  Unfortunately my message was not understood. I got a phone call later from Pancho who was not amused to see "Party Girl" at his doorstep [she had rolled into town in the middle of the week and wanted to go out and party]. Plus he wanted me to explain this business about the ocean or the river or whatever I’d said.  To this day we laugh about the cryptic message.

 Why “aguas, aguas” you may wonder?  I’ve always been told that in Mexico, long ago, before people had inside plumbing at home, people would throw out to the street the “gray water” of the chamber pots. So they would go to the window and warn passersby of what they were about to do by yelling “aguas, aguas”.  Who knows if it’s really true, that is how my grandma explained it to me long ago -- I am sticking to her story.

 Till next one...

La Mexicana

Catch 22

A good phrase to use when you are getting the runaround on getting something done. You may have a choice between two things, lets say X and Y. But you cannot choose Y because X prevents you from doing Y. Thus you cannot choose X because Y prevents you from doing Y.  

Let's say you go to the local country office to obtain a construction permit.  The requirements say that you must have the blueprints of the project and must have hired contractors to work on the project, plus you also need this, that and the other forms. You have the blueprints, this, that and the other forms, however the contractors will not sign off on the project because you do not have a construction permit.  So unless you bribe, I mean, "convince" the county clerk to grant you the permit so that the contractors sign off on the project or you "convince" the contractors sign off on the project so that you can obtain the permit, there will be no construction permit issued. *

In other words, there is no way to win or get ahead or accomplish anything. This is a lose-lose situation. 

 

The term was first coined by Joseph Heller in his satirical, historical novel Catch-22.  The novel is set during the later stages of World War II from 1943 onwards. The author cited an "Air Force rule whereby a pilot continuing to fly combat missions without asking for relief is regarded as insane, but is considered sane enough to continue flying if he does make such a request." (source).

For a extended treatment of the novel, read the Wiki article here.

* I made up this example, but the more I re-read this, the more it sounds like something Mexican bureaucrats do. 

Mano a Mano

My friend Susan asked me the other day about the Spanish idiomatic expression “mano a mano”. I’d never thought on how to explain it. The first thing that comes to mind when I hear it is a boxing match or a lucha libre match. Two adversaries against each other, a one on one event.

So here is what I have learnt and found out: It is an idiomatic expression that is widely used in Spanish when two bullfighters alternate at a given bullfight. In everyday language it is used to describe that two people, on equal footing, are against each other whether at a competition, match, confrontation, duel or conflict.

Wikipedia mentions that possibly the term “mano a mano” in the English language was imported by Ernest Hemingway. Further research shows that in his non-fiction article for Life Magazine “The Dangerous Summer,” Hemingway uses the phrase “mano a mano” to describe the rivalry on the ring between Antonio Ordoñez and Luis Miguel Dominguín during the bullfighting season of 1959 in Spain. This was the last work he wrote before his death. It later was publish in book form.

“In April, however, the feud was resolved, and in June a series of cartels matched the two masters. At Zaragoza , Luis Miguel cut three ears, Ordoñez one. In Barcelona the result was the same, and again at Puerto de Santa María. The luck changed at Tudela— Ordoñez cut four ears, Dominguín none. This brought them to Valencia

and Tuesday, July 28. If they fought well on that date, a mano a mano—an admitted and open duel on the sands with each matador taking three bulls—would be scheduled for Thursday, July 30. Ordoñez cut two ears, Dominguín none, but the crowd was wildly enthusiastic and the mano a mano was scheduled.” (source)

1) left: Hemingway watching a bullfight. 2) right: Hemingway and Ordoñez 3) center: cover of "El Verano Peligroso", Spanish version of "The Dangerous Summer".

Like water off a Juárez statue

In order to tie these two phrases: Like water off a duck's back & Hacerle lo que el viento a Juárez, I had to get a bit clever and creative here... poetic license I call it. Both phrases refer to a person who does not let things affect him/her.

Be (like) water off a duck's back: if criticism is water off a duck's back to someone, it has no effect on them at all. He's always being told he's lazy and incompetent, but it's just water off a duck's back to him. (source).

According to the "Big Site of Amazing Facts" this happens because oil and water don't mix. When a duck is swimming or out in the rain, the bird secretes an oil from glands near its tail. With its bill, the duck rubs the oil over its body. The oil keeps the water from soaking through the duck's feathers, making the bird "waterproof."

Which can be translated as "le hizo lo que el viento a Juárez: What the wind did to Juárez".

President Benito Juárez had to overcome many obstacles but at the end was able to defeat the hurdles. Many towns in Mexico erected statues of Juárez in his honor. Juárez proved he was not affected by the "elements" and these sculptures are not affected by the elements, no smog, no rain, and no wind! Thus the wind does nothing to Juárez. (I know the essence is lost in translation, so I leave my original explanation in Spanish below).

Es el equivalente a la expresión mexicana: le hizo lo que el viento a Juárez. El presidente Benito Juárez superó muchas vicisitudes, criticismos y dificultades. Al final él, sus principios y reformas superaron los obstáculos. En honor a Juárez se erigieron muchas estatuas en México. A las esculturas no les afecta los elementos (lluvia, viento, etc.), de ahí del dicho "hacerle lo que el viento a Juárez".

Ente los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz. Benito Juárez
Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.

Wet Noodle

So here is another idiomatic expression: to have the personality of a wet noodle.

A wet noodle is a person who is pessimistic or depressing; a naysayer, someone with a negative attitude. (source). The way I've seen it used and heard it used is referring to a person with a bland personality.



In a different context, a "wet noodle" is a handy dandy device or tool used to pull cables, fish wires through a wall, etc. (technical description).

Mexican Standoff!!

Last night Michael was wondering where the phrase "Mexican Standoff" came from. Of course he was looking at me as I had an answer readily available. I did not.

Inquiring minds want to know....

I quickly googled it and, obviously, Wiki had the answer: 
"The phrase came into usage during the late 19th century. Originally a derogatory reference to perceived Mexican political indecision, it has come to refer to any impasse, regardless of the participants. The phrase is used to describe both armed and unarmed conflicts". 

Here is another definition:
a situation in which no one can emerge as a clear winner. Synonyms include: deadlock and impasse.

So this one of the most recent idiomatic expressions I've learned. The funny thing is that today I had a chance to use it in one of the forums where I participate. They had a thread on photographs of couples and someone posted the one here.
I logged in and made a comment to say that it was the perfect illustration for "Mexican standoff". So there you go, I've put it to practice.

Till next time.

La Mexicana