10 Comments
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Juliet Wilson's avatar

That's very interesting and entertaining! I've always thought the phrase 'the bees' knees' refers to the pollen that bees collect and store on what would be the knees of their back legs if they had knees. When a bee has collected a lot of pollen she seems to have very prominent (usually yellow) knees

SleepyHollow, inK.'s avatar

You're so right! Technically just the hind legs and not exactly "knees" but that seems like a very sound and scientific explanation to me! So much fun that such a phrase goes so many ways.

claire davis's avatar

Loved it!!!

Andrew Smith's avatar

This piece is the gnat's elbow! Tad Dorgan sounds like a 20th century Shakespeare in many ways, inventing or collecting tons of common words and phrases we use today.

Here's a really accessible study of etymology. I love word origins.

SleepyHollow, inK.'s avatar

Back from my mountain to say I love your use of the gnat’s elbow, but it should be goat!

Andrew Smith's avatar

How about "the goat's beard"? I don't currently have one, but goats sure do!

Steve Adams's avatar

This was fun. Tad sure left his mark. Wonder how he'd feel about being called fecund?

SleepyHollow, inK.'s avatar

Yeah not your average sports cartoon man word!

Wendy's avatar

Could someone pick up a spool of flight line and some glow stick batteries for me?

If there’s no one at supply or the motor pool you might need to drive out to the hanger.

Thanks Private, you’re the bees knees 🤣

Miss those days