What does “You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure…” mean?
What does "You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." mean? And if you know what it means, can you also specify the origin of this phrase?
To be more specific about the context, I've heard it here: http://youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s
meaning phrases idioms
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
|
show 1 more comment
What does "You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." mean? And if you know what it means, can you also specify the origin of this phrase?
To be more specific about the context, I've heard it here: http://youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s
meaning phrases idioms
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
Sure it is supposed to be bad :) corrected, sorry...
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:00
1
It's an ethnic joke: the [Irish/Polish/Hoosier] woman who took two [birth control pills/laxatives/sleeping draughts] to be sure ... the second to be sure is a Stage Irishism. It's been floating around the internet for at least ten years.
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
@StoneyB - I, too, would have guessed two birth control pills (as one is bad enough in Irish Catholicism), but the lady is "old", hence she should not be fertile.
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:26
Nota bene: "what means X" is the exact opposite of "what does X mean". You are looking for the latter.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jan 7 '14 at 21:34
1
@Susan Faith, an d'ye think that th' bosthoons that crack jokes o' this sort have the wit to see that?
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 22:05
|
show 1 more comment
What does "You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." mean? And if you know what it means, can you also specify the origin of this phrase?
To be more specific about the context, I've heard it here: http://youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s
meaning phrases idioms
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
What does "You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." mean? And if you know what it means, can you also specify the origin of this phrase?
To be more specific about the context, I've heard it here: http://youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s
meaning phrases idioms
meaning phrases idioms
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
edited Jan 7 '14 at 21:33
RegDwigнt♦
82.7k31281377
82.7k31281377
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
asked Jan 7 '14 at 20:53
RaS
85
85
Sure it is supposed to be bad :) corrected, sorry...
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:00
1
It's an ethnic joke: the [Irish/Polish/Hoosier] woman who took two [birth control pills/laxatives/sleeping draughts] to be sure ... the second to be sure is a Stage Irishism. It's been floating around the internet for at least ten years.
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
@StoneyB - I, too, would have guessed two birth control pills (as one is bad enough in Irish Catholicism), but the lady is "old", hence she should not be fertile.
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:26
Nota bene: "what means X" is the exact opposite of "what does X mean". You are looking for the latter.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jan 7 '14 at 21:34
1
@Susan Faith, an d'ye think that th' bosthoons that crack jokes o' this sort have the wit to see that?
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 22:05
|
show 1 more comment
Sure it is supposed to be bad :) corrected, sorry...
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:00
1
It's an ethnic joke: the [Irish/Polish/Hoosier] woman who took two [birth control pills/laxatives/sleeping draughts] to be sure ... the second to be sure is a Stage Irishism. It's been floating around the internet for at least ten years.
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
@StoneyB - I, too, would have guessed two birth control pills (as one is bad enough in Irish Catholicism), but the lady is "old", hence she should not be fertile.
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:26
Nota bene: "what means X" is the exact opposite of "what does X mean". You are looking for the latter.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jan 7 '14 at 21:34
1
@Susan Faith, an d'ye think that th' bosthoons that crack jokes o' this sort have the wit to see that?
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 22:05
Sure it is supposed to be bad :) corrected, sorry...
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:00
Sure it is supposed to be bad :) corrected, sorry...
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:00
1
1
It's an ethnic joke: the [Irish/Polish/Hoosier] woman who took two [birth control pills/laxatives/sleeping draughts] to be sure ... the second to be sure is a Stage Irishism. It's been floating around the internet for at least ten years.
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
It's an ethnic joke: the [Irish/Polish/Hoosier] woman who took two [birth control pills/laxatives/sleeping draughts] to be sure ... the second to be sure is a Stage Irishism. It's been floating around the internet for at least ten years.
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
@StoneyB - I, too, would have guessed two birth control pills (as one is bad enough in Irish Catholicism), but the lady is "old", hence she should not be fertile.
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:26
@StoneyB - I, too, would have guessed two birth control pills (as one is bad enough in Irish Catholicism), but the lady is "old", hence she should not be fertile.
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:26
Nota bene: "what means X" is the exact opposite of "what does X mean". You are looking for the latter.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jan 7 '14 at 21:34
Nota bene: "what means X" is the exact opposite of "what does X mean". You are looking for the latter.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jan 7 '14 at 21:34
1
1
@Susan Faith, an d'ye think that th' bosthoons that crack jokes o' this sort have the wit to see that?
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 22:05
@Susan Faith, an d'ye think that th' bosthoons that crack jokes o' this sort have the wit to see that?
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 22:05
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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"You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." ?
Reduplication is an alleged trait of [Hiberno-English](to be sure, to be sure...) (Irish-English) strongly associated with stage-Irish and Hollywood films.
The first pill, she took to be sure, and the second, she also took to be sure, so together, she took two pills to be sure, to be sure...
There appears to be no idiom here. It must be from a book or other single source, wherein the meaning of this particular use may be found.
I can make a guess that it means one is as mistrustful as the old Irish woman who didn't trust that one pill would do the job, so she took two, but this is only a guess.
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
add a comment |
It’s most definitely an Irish joke about an old senile Irish Catholic woman who forgets she is too old to conceive children and taking birth control goes against her religion. Despite all this she takes the pill twice because she is so forgetful.
So it is a witty comical insult about being forgetful.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
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Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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"You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." ?
Reduplication is an alleged trait of [Hiberno-English](to be sure, to be sure...) (Irish-English) strongly associated with stage-Irish and Hollywood films.
The first pill, she took to be sure, and the second, she also took to be sure, so together, she took two pills to be sure, to be sure...
There appears to be no idiom here. It must be from a book or other single source, wherein the meaning of this particular use may be found.
I can make a guess that it means one is as mistrustful as the old Irish woman who didn't trust that one pill would do the job, so she took two, but this is only a guess.
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
add a comment |
"You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." ?
Reduplication is an alleged trait of [Hiberno-English](to be sure, to be sure...) (Irish-English) strongly associated with stage-Irish and Hollywood films.
The first pill, she took to be sure, and the second, she also took to be sure, so together, she took two pills to be sure, to be sure...
There appears to be no idiom here. It must be from a book or other single source, wherein the meaning of this particular use may be found.
I can make a guess that it means one is as mistrustful as the old Irish woman who didn't trust that one pill would do the job, so she took two, but this is only a guess.
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
add a comment |
"You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." ?
Reduplication is an alleged trait of [Hiberno-English](to be sure, to be sure...) (Irish-English) strongly associated with stage-Irish and Hollywood films.
The first pill, she took to be sure, and the second, she also took to be sure, so together, she took two pills to be sure, to be sure...
There appears to be no idiom here. It must be from a book or other single source, wherein the meaning of this particular use may be found.
I can make a guess that it means one is as mistrustful as the old Irish woman who didn't trust that one pill would do the job, so she took two, but this is only a guess.
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
"You're as bad as the old Irish woman who took the two pills to be sure, to be sure..." ?
Reduplication is an alleged trait of [Hiberno-English](to be sure, to be sure...) (Irish-English) strongly associated with stage-Irish and Hollywood films.
The first pill, she took to be sure, and the second, she also took to be sure, so together, she took two pills to be sure, to be sure...
There appears to be no idiom here. It must be from a book or other single source, wherein the meaning of this particular use may be found.
I can make a guess that it means one is as mistrustful as the old Irish woman who didn't trust that one pill would do the job, so she took two, but this is only a guess.
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
answered Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
anongoodnurse
50.5k14105190
50.5k14105190
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
add a comment |
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
I believe, that it may be more like combination of ethnic joke and your anwer, I've heard it here: youtu.be/BfI9rJ0toWA?t=1m2s. What do you think @Susan?
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:32
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
@MartinDiner - what a fun clip! You're correct, to be sure, to be sure. :)
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:36
add a comment |
It’s most definitely an Irish joke about an old senile Irish Catholic woman who forgets she is too old to conceive children and taking birth control goes against her religion. Despite all this she takes the pill twice because she is so forgetful.
So it is a witty comical insult about being forgetful.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It’s most definitely an Irish joke about an old senile Irish Catholic woman who forgets she is too old to conceive children and taking birth control goes against her religion. Despite all this she takes the pill twice because she is so forgetful.
So it is a witty comical insult about being forgetful.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
It’s most definitely an Irish joke about an old senile Irish Catholic woman who forgets she is too old to conceive children and taking birth control goes against her religion. Despite all this she takes the pill twice because she is so forgetful.
So it is a witty comical insult about being forgetful.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It’s most definitely an Irish joke about an old senile Irish Catholic woman who forgets she is too old to conceive children and taking birth control goes against her religion. Despite all this she takes the pill twice because she is so forgetful.
So it is a witty comical insult about being forgetful.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
answered 10 mins ago
Mick
1
1
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Mick is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Sure it is supposed to be bad :) corrected, sorry...
– RaS
Jan 7 '14 at 21:00
1
It's an ethnic joke: the [Irish/Polish/Hoosier] woman who took two [birth control pills/laxatives/sleeping draughts] to be sure ... the second to be sure is a Stage Irishism. It's been floating around the internet for at least ten years.
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 21:09
@StoneyB - I, too, would have guessed two birth control pills (as one is bad enough in Irish Catholicism), but the lady is "old", hence she should not be fertile.
– anongoodnurse
Jan 7 '14 at 21:26
Nota bene: "what means X" is the exact opposite of "what does X mean". You are looking for the latter.
– RegDwigнt♦
Jan 7 '14 at 21:34
1
@Susan Faith, an d'ye think that th' bosthoons that crack jokes o' this sort have the wit to see that?
– StoneyB
Jan 7 '14 at 22:05