The new trivia thread.

[Ceiling Cat]

What are the origins of the expression The cat is in the bag ?

 

[New Guy]

What does the expression The cat is in the bag mean?

You were ripped off and got a dead cat fer yer supper and not a rabbit.

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[Ceiling Cat]

You were ripped off and got a dead cat fer yer supper and not a rabbit.

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Not correct, you dammed pussy eater!

 

[New Guy]

not correct, you dammed pussy eater!

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm pussy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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[Blue-Spheroid]

What are the origins of the expression The cat is in the bag ?

This lesser known expression is related to the better known expressions "pig in a poke" and "let the cat out of the bag".

In medieval markets, pigs (or more commonly piglets) were stuffed into sacks (called pokes) to keep them from running all over the place. Some merchants would attempt to fake out customers by substituting something less valuable (like a cat) for the piglet in the bag. For this reason, people were warned not to buy a piglet in a sack (pig in a poke) sight unseen. Instead, they should open the bag to confirm the contents. If you "let the cat out of the bag" you were exposing the merchant's secret attempt to rip you or others off. If you didn't catch on to the scam, you'd leave with what you thought was a pig but, in actual fact, "the cat is in the bag" - you were ripped off.

 

[bobistheowl]

A blue moon is the rare occurrence where there are two full moons within a calendar month.

It's not that rare. It happens once every 2½ years or so. The actual period is variable, depending on whether or not a leap year or three February s are relevant.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

Name a military organization that requires all members to change their name when they join.

 

[Brill]

terb?

 

[New Guy]

Name a military organization that requires all members to change their name when they join.

french foreign legion.

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[dirkd101]

french foreign legion.

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Yes, that's the one!

 

[New Guy]

This lesser known expression is related to the better known expressions "pig in a poke" and "let the cat out of the bag".

In medieval markets, pigs (or more commonly piglets) were stuffed into sacks (called pokes) to keep them from running all over the place. Some merchants would attempt to fake out customers by substituting something less valuable (like a cat) for the piglet in the bag. For this reason, people were warned not to buy a piglet in a sack (pig in a poke) sight unseen. Instead, they should open the bag to confirm the contents. If you "let the cat out of the bag" you were exposing the merchant's secret attempt to rip you or others off. If you didn't catch on to the scam, you'd leave with what you thought was a pig but, in actual fact, "the cat is in the bag" - you were ripped off.

Kind of what I meant by saying rabbit, but your answer is more precise.

cats are a poor substitute for most things :biggrin1: , however Pussy, thats another story.

GB should go home now.

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[goalie000]

The Lone Rangers horse was named "Silver", what was Tonto's horse's name?

 

[nondescriptive]

Who said "Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed"

 

[Ben Hogan]

Who said "Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed"

Robin the Boy Wonder

 

[nondescriptive]

Robin the Boy Wonder

I guess that one was too easy,lol

 

[Ceiling Cat]

french foreign legion.

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The French Foreign legion is part of the military of France, why is it called the foreign legion.

 

[Ceiling Cat]

This lesser known expression is related to the better known expressions "pig in a poke" and "let the cat out of the bag".

In medieval markets, pigs (or more commonly piglets) were stuffed into sacks (called pokes) to keep them from running all over the place. Some merchants would attempt to fake out customers by substituting something less valuable (like a cat) for the piglet in the bag. For this reason, people were warned not to buy a piglet in a sack (pig in a poke) sight unseen. Instead, they should open the bag to confirm the contents. If you "let the cat out of the bag" you were exposing the merchant's secret attempt to rip you or others off. If you didn't catch on to the scam, you'd leave with what you thought was a pig but, in actual fact, "the cat is in the bag" - you were ripped off.

I do not think that saying the cat is in the bag means the same as a pig in a poke. When someone says the cat is in the bag, they usually mean that something is a sure thing, a pig in the poke mean that you are buying something without examining it first. Anyways the question is, what is the origin of the expression?

 

[nondescriptive]

"It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!"


What is the meaning of this phrase?

 

[shack]

"It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!"


What is the meaning of this phrase?

Metal ring, called a monkey, holds a pyramid of cannonballs in place on a warship.
At one point they started to make them out of brass (so they wouldn't fuse together with the balls from the salt in the sea air).
When it got too cold, the brass ring, monkey, would shrink a bit and the cannonball pyramid would fall off.

 

[shack]

The Lone Rangers horse was named "Silver", what was Tonto's horse's name?

Horse.