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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on February 8, 2006, at 21:16:21
Don't know why but I have always wondered why the heck a wagon is used to describe whether one is drinking or not. Here's the origin of the phrase:
<The "wagon" in "on the wagon" (having sworn off drinking all alcohol) and "off the wagon" (having failed in one's resolve and thus having started drinking again) refers to a fixture of America's past, the water wagon. Before roads were routinely paved, municipalities would dispatch horse-drawn water wagons to spray the streets in order to prevent the clouds of dust that traffic would otherwise cause. Anyone who had sworn abstinence from alcohol (and would presumably be drinking largely water from then on) was said to have "climbed aboard the water wagon," later shortened to "on the wagon.">
ClearSkies, toodling around in circles on my little red wagon.
Posted by ClearSkies on February 8, 2006, at 22:16:24
In reply to Where did that wagon come from?, posted by ClearSkies on February 8, 2006, at 21:16:21
Ohmigod I can't believe I made such a geeky post.
> Don't know why but I have always wondered why the heck a wagon is used to describe whether one is drinking or not. Here's the origin of the phrase:
>
> <The "wagon" in "on the wagon" (having sworn off drinking all alcohol) and "off the wagon" (having failed in one's resolve and thus having started drinking again) refers to a fixture of America's past, the water wagon. Before roads were routinely paved, municipalities would dispatch horse-drawn water wagons to spray the streets in order to prevent the clouds of dust that traffic would otherwise cause. Anyone who had sworn abstinence from alcohol (and would presumably be drinking largely water from then on) was said to have "climbed aboard the water wagon," later shortened to "on the wagon.">
>
>
> ClearSkies, toodling around in circles on my little red wagon.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on February 8, 2006, at 22:57:00
In reply to Re: Where did that wagon come from?, posted by ClearSkies on February 8, 2006, at 22:16:24
It's always good to know where the words we use come from. It helps them to have meaning. It puts them in context.
Thanks for that post.
--Dee
Posted by AuntieMel on February 9, 2006, at 14:00:54
In reply to Where did that wagon come from?, posted by ClearSkies on February 8, 2006, at 21:16:21
Very cool post. Not geeky at all.
<at least to this geek, it wasn't>
Posted by Sabrina_0805 on February 9, 2006, at 15:47:37
In reply to Re: Where did that wagon come from?, posted by AuntieMel on February 9, 2006, at 14:00:54
Not geeky! Not at all.
No wagon for me anytime soon!Sigh!!!
S
PS - you are so strong. so special!
Posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2006, at 20:48:12
In reply to Where did that wagon come from?, posted by ClearSkies on February 8, 2006, at 21:16:21
I just thought you fell off the wagon because you were too drunk to stay on it.
-T
Posted by TexasChic on March 16, 2006, at 19:33:28
In reply to Re: Where did that wagon come from? » ClearSkies, posted by TexasChic on February 10, 2006, at 20:48:12
I didn't mean you personally. I just reread what I wrote and realized it could be taken wrong. I meant that maybe 'falling off the wagon' came from drunk people falling off the wagon.
-T
Posted by ClearSkies on March 18, 2006, at 15:08:41
In reply to Re: Where did that wagon come from?, posted by TexasChic on March 16, 2006, at 19:33:28
LOL!! You didn't have to clarify for me, sweetie. That's pretty funny, though. I fell off my slippers (and no, they don't have heels) a couple of weeks ago. Luckily I crash landed on the sofa. Much better than a hangover...
CS
Posted by TexasChic on March 18, 2006, at 18:36:14
In reply to Re: Where did that wagon come from? » TexasChic, posted by ClearSkies on March 18, 2006, at 15:08:41
I'm glad you weren't offended. I reread my post and couldn't even remember writing it - I was most likely PWD. I was like, how could I write something so rude?! Then I realized what I really meant and worried someone else might misinterprete it
-T
This is the end of the thread.
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