Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker
Our mothers and grandmothers have given us so much. They’ve passed down their recipes, china patterns, and their parenting tips, for starters, but, we’ve just realized—they’ve passed down their vocabularies too. We have inherited their styles, their heirlooms, and more than a few of their favorite sayings as well.
From adages and proverbs to their favorite Southern turns of phrase, these ladies sure do have a way with words. Have you heard any of these classic phrases?
Surely your grandma has told you to eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away. (yep)
Or perhaps she mentioned that “pretty is as pretty does.” (Now that was one of her favorites.) Maybe you’ve heard that “still waters run deep.”
She has almost certainly exclaimed “Goodness gracious!” (And, of course, we all have too.) We heard all of these adages growing up, and we couldn’t help but pick up a few ourselves. However, we’re starting to think that these words are passed down to us along with hair color and height. They feel so right—they must be in our DNA. Give your grandma a call, if you can, and I bet she will repeat an old saying before hanging up.
A few others you have probably heard:
Many hands make light work.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater (I have never heard of this one)
Early to bed and early to rise makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Any job worth doing is worth doing well.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
You’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
The early bird catches the worm.
A rising tide lifts all boats.
Make hay while the sun shines.
You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
Fortune favors the brave. Strike while the iron is hot.
I am sure your mom passed on down other old sayings. Do you know any?
Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny For Your Thoughts.
