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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Some phrases said can be very confusing - for instance 'not blowing smoke up your/my arse' - why would you actually do that? And why would it be considered a good thing? Feel free to pitch in! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Um... Phrases like that are often idioms... They don't mean what they literally refer to.
Your example "I'm not blowing smoke up my arse" means that your intention is not to make yourself seem better to others. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Um... Phrases like that are often idioms... They don't mean what they literally refer to.
Your example "I'm not blowing smoke up my arse" means that your intention is not to make yourself seem better to others. "
Yes I get that, but why would would you do it and how does it make you better? I'm easily confused!  |
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The origin of "blowing smoke up your ass" is that once ( in the 1700s) when tobacco had been discovered, it was seen as a stimulant. Tobacco smoke was actually blown up people's asses with bellows; to revive ill people; it was also thought to stimulate the heart; it was used to revive victims of drowning.
So having smoke blown up your ass made you feel better.
When it was realised that it didn't really do much, the phrase emerged as a sarcastic way of saying " you are trying to make me feel better by doing/ saying something useless." |
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