Another one heard from a rural Missourian

[dsteve54]

Somebody with a Missouri background (rural) happened to be talking with me about a guy who was really skinny. He happened to say parenthetically that "he could tread water in a garden hose". I thought it conjured up a vivid image. I searched this site and saw no reference, so I thought I would serve it up. Bye.

[Perry]

I am more likely to say, "thin as a rake", but your interlocutor's phrase is much more evocotive.

[LukeJavan8]

I had a student in class once, and he was called
'Tootsie Pop" as a nickname. The round candy with
Tootsie Roll center on a thin stick. If he appeared
"sans clothes" I think he would have disappeared, except
for his head. Sort of like Harry Potter when he first puts
on the "disappearing cloak".

[dsteve54]

I had a student in class once, and he was called
'Tootsie Pop" as a nickname. The round candy with
Tootsie Roll center on a thin stick. If he appeared
"sans clothes" I think he would have disappeared, except
for his head. Sort of like Harry Potter when he first puts
on the "disappearing cloak".

It is good imagery, with respect to thinness, but the reference sent up a red flag for me as to whether it might be combined with a racial reference...I don't know; I had not heard the term used in the context you mentioned. I just had a funny feeling about how it might be received, depending on the person in question.

[LukeJavan8]

Good thought, thanks, no racial slur intended. And it
was over 30 years ago. He was same race as I, by the way.

[skinem]

I must be sheltered, I have no idea how "tootsie pop" could be a racial reference.

Of all the places I've lived, it seems the South seems to outshine the west and north when it comes to colorful expressions and nicknames. I think everyone I knew in the South had a nickname. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but close.

I like "could tread water in a garden hose"...

[Slava]

I must be sheltered, I have no idea how "tootsie pop" could be a racial reference.

It's most likely because Tootsie Rolls are brown.

I like "could tread water in a garden hose"

I like this one, too. Another I heard, strictly about females, is: A toothpick with breasts. (Breasts not being the most commonly used word.)

[skinem]

I must be sheltered, I have no idea how "tootsie pop" could be a racial reference.

It's most likely because Tootsie Rolls are brown.

But tootsie pops are the color of the rainbow...sounds multi-racial to me.

[Slava]

But tootsie pops are the color of the rainbow...sounds multi-racial to me.

Are they? I haven't seen one in many a year. However, the center is still a tootsie brown, isn't it? Thus the connotation.

Oy, have we done that word? Why, yes, we have:

http://www.alphadictionary.com/goodword ... onnotation

[LukeJavan8]

I must be sheltered, I have no idea how "tootsie pop" could be a racial reference.

Of all the places I've lived, it seems the South seems to outshine the west and north when it comes to colorful expressions and nicknames. I think everyone I knew in the South had a nickname. Ok, that's an exaggeration, but close.

I like "could tread water in a garden hose"...

I have a hard time with that too, but obviously it can be
intended in the wrong way.

[LukeJavan8]

I must be sheltered, I have no idea how "tootsie pop" could be a racial reference.

It's most likely because Tootsie Rolls are brown.

I like "could tread water in a garden hose"

I like this one, too. Another I heard, strictly about females, is: A toothpick with breasts. (Breasts not being the most commonly used word.)

Now, I've never heard the toothpick one except standing
alone. Never with appendages.

My favorite tootsie pop was 'grape" and was purple.
No racial image there: except the old:

"One eyed, one horned flying purple people eater" from the old song.

[LukeJavan8]

But tootsie pops are the color of the rainbow...sounds multi-racial to me.

Are they? I haven't seen one in many a year. However, the center is still a tootsie brown, isn't it? Thus the connotation.

Oy, have we done that word? Why, yes, we have:

http://www.alphadictionary.com/goodword ... onnotation

Perhaps the center is brown, but my image was
before the 'goodie' was ingested.