Idioms Explained
Viewing comments for Chapter 23 "Liver Idioms"Fanstorians explain the backstory of idioms
35 total reviews
Comment from Ric Myworld
What seems logical to many seems weird in other parts of the world. I can't imagine telling someone I would eat their liver. I mean, if someone said that to me, I might retaliate before they had the chance to act. LOL. Thanks for sharing. :-)
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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What seems logical to many seems weird in other parts of the world. I can't imagine telling someone I would eat their liver. I mean, if someone said that to me, I might retaliate before they had the chance to act. LOL. Thanks for sharing. :-)
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Lol. I think you better ask for a translation before retaliating, Ric! Thanks for the giggles!
Blessings!
Comment from Kit Nongkhlaw
Thanks for enlightening us on this important word, the liver. In our language (Khasi), we have the same concept, and the liver is taken as the heart. Thanks for sharing, Kit.
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Thanks for enlightening us on this important word, the liver. In our language (Khasi), we have the same concept, and the liver is taken as the heart. Thanks for sharing, Kit.
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Thank you for sharing about the use of "liver" in the Khasi language! Blessings to you and yours!
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The pleasure is mine
Comment from l.raven
HI Helen, LOL...I have heard the phrase...What am I,
chopped liver...but have never heard...eat your liver...
like you...I'll stick with the heart for my emotions...
and maybe not liking to eat liver...doesn't help...LOL...
this was very interesting read sweet girl...I just read Sandra's idioms as well...they do bring back memories when
more idioms were spoke...
I love your story told you...and love the picture...
very well written...love much...Linda xxoo
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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HI Helen, LOL...I have heard the phrase...What am I,
chopped liver...but have never heard...eat your liver...
like you...I'll stick with the heart for my emotions...
and maybe not liking to eat liver...doesn't help...LOL...
this was very interesting read sweet girl...I just read Sandra's idioms as well...they do bring back memories when
more idioms were spoke...
I love your story told you...and love the picture...
very well written...love much...Linda xxoo
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Thank you so much, Linda! It was fun to think about. Hugs!!
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always welcome Helen...love xxoo
Comment from Ulla
Hi Helen, yes that expression is very common in Denmark too. I believe the Norwegians have adopted it from Denmark, as our languages are very similar and Denmark ruled Norway for more than 300 years. One example of this is that famous author, Ibsen, is claimed to be Danish, but the Norwegians say he was from their country, and he was indeed born in Norway. But he wrote in Danish, as we were the rulers at the time. A bit complicated. Now, I totally agree, the liver doesn't work very well in the English idioms. Very interesting chapter. Ulla:)))
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Hi Helen, yes that expression is very common in Denmark too. I believe the Norwegians have adopted it from Denmark, as our languages are very similar and Denmark ruled Norway for more than 300 years. One example of this is that famous author, Ibsen, is claimed to be Danish, but the Norwegians say he was from their country, and he was indeed born in Norway. But he wrote in Danish, as we were the rulers at the time. A bit complicated. Now, I totally agree, the liver doesn't work very well in the English idioms. Very interesting chapter. Ulla:)))
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Thank you so much, Ulla, for the great review and sharing about the Danish rule over Norway. Of course, all these nations and their borders were in modern history. With the little German I know, I see a lot of similarities with Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish so Danish must be Germanic also. Enjoyed your history lesson and about Ibsen! Hugs!
Comment from Sally Law
I hate the taste of liver and don't think I could swallow another morsel. I'd have to prove my love another way. It was my mother's way to combat illness and low blood iron. She didn't believe in vitamin pills, so we all choked down the pan-fried liver and onions once a week. Blah!!!!! A fun one on the source of the liver idioms. Sending you my best today as always and best wishes for the book,
Sal xoxo's...
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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I hate the taste of liver and don't think I could swallow another morsel. I'd have to prove my love another way. It was my mother's way to combat illness and low blood iron. She didn't believe in vitamin pills, so we all choked down the pan-fried liver and onions once a week. Blah!!!!! A fun one on the source of the liver idioms. Sending you my best today as always and best wishes for the book,
Sal xoxo's...
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Wow, you survived that! I don't think I ever ate any until I was pregnant and they said we needed it. Thanks for reviewing, Sally! Hugs!
Comment from Pantygynt
Although not Roman Catholics my kindergarten schooling was in a convent. My mother would tell the story of how I came home one day and in answer to the question 'What did you have for lunch today, dear?' replied 'Liver godly'. We had in fact had liver and the grace said prior to the meal was based on:
2 Timothy 3:12 '...to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...' and live-a-godly had become connected in my 5 year-old logic to the menu item liver godly. A variation on bread and wine perhaps!
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Although not Roman Catholics my kindergarten schooling was in a convent. My mother would tell the story of how I came home one day and in answer to the question 'What did you have for lunch today, dear?' replied 'Liver godly'. We had in fact had liver and the grace said prior to the meal was based on:
2 Timothy 3:12 '...to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...' and live-a-godly had become connected in my 5 year-old logic to the menu item liver godly. A variation on bread and wine perhaps!
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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That's so funny! I'm glad you remembered that story - or did your mother remind you of that story. I'm sure she had a good laugh over that one for years. Children are still learning language and don't know where to divide the sounds that are strung along in speech. Thanks for sharing that, Jim! Blessings!
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
This is an excellent commentary. I enjoyed being reminded of several idioms, and learning a few new ones. I particularly enjoyed the last sentence. It really made ma laugh - a lot. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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This is an excellent commentary. I enjoyed being reminded of several idioms, and learning a few new ones. I particularly enjoyed the last sentence. It really made ma laugh - a lot. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Isn't language fun? Thanks so much, Kate! Hugs!
Comment from Father Flaps
Hi Helen,
I enjoyed your little essay on the body's "largest internal organ", and a "source of courage". Of course, I've run across the term "lily-livered", too, to describe a coward.
I think this little tidbit would fit into your piece as well. One of my favorite movies of all-time starred Robert Redford as "Jeremiah Johnson", a 1972 American Western film directed by Sydney Pollack. Will Geer of "Walton" fame also starred, playing the role of Bear Claw Chris Lapp, another mountain man. The movie was based on Raymond Thorp and Robert Bunker's book, "Crow Killer: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson".
From what I understand, the real Jeremiah Johnson took revenge on the Crow tribe for killing his Indian wife (a Flathead) and adopted son. He killed somewhere over 300 Indians, supposedly cutting out their livers and feasting on them, which would have been quite an insult to the Crow nation. But was it true? We'll never know. All we have are legends. One story goes, that Jeremiah Johnson was finally captured by the Blackfeet, who held him for the Crows. But Johnson escaped, killing his Blackfoot guard and cutting off one of his legs which sustained him in his bid for freedom. In the movie, Robert Redford (as Liver-eatin' Johnson) didn't eat any livers. The script had him taking revenge only on the war party of Crow who killed his wife and son. It was the Crow tribe who then took revenge on Johnson. But instead of attacking him as a whole war party, they sent one particular warrior at a time. Johnson never knew when he was going to be attacked by this well-trained Crow warrior. But he killed them all, one after the other. Other mountain men, like Bear Claw and Del Gue, didn't spend much time with Jeremiah during that period because they knew they could wind up dead.
Wow! Did I get side-tracked here, or what?
Hugs,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Hi Helen,
I enjoyed your little essay on the body's "largest internal organ", and a "source of courage". Of course, I've run across the term "lily-livered", too, to describe a coward.
I think this little tidbit would fit into your piece as well. One of my favorite movies of all-time starred Robert Redford as "Jeremiah Johnson", a 1972 American Western film directed by Sydney Pollack. Will Geer of "Walton" fame also starred, playing the role of Bear Claw Chris Lapp, another mountain man. The movie was based on Raymond Thorp and Robert Bunker's book, "Crow Killer: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson".
From what I understand, the real Jeremiah Johnson took revenge on the Crow tribe for killing his Indian wife (a Flathead) and adopted son. He killed somewhere over 300 Indians, supposedly cutting out their livers and feasting on them, which would have been quite an insult to the Crow nation. But was it true? We'll never know. All we have are legends. One story goes, that Jeremiah Johnson was finally captured by the Blackfeet, who held him for the Crows. But Johnson escaped, killing his Blackfoot guard and cutting off one of his legs which sustained him in his bid for freedom. In the movie, Robert Redford (as Liver-eatin' Johnson) didn't eat any livers. The script had him taking revenge only on the war party of Crow who killed his wife and son. It was the Crow tribe who then took revenge on Johnson. But instead of attacking him as a whole war party, they sent one particular warrior at a time. Johnson never knew when he was going to be attacked by this well-trained Crow warrior. But he killed them all, one after the other. Other mountain men, like Bear Claw and Del Gue, didn't spend much time with Jeremiah during that period because they knew they could wind up dead.
Wow! Did I get side-tracked here, or what?
Hugs,
Kimbob
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Lol. You write an entire post in your reviews, Kimbob! I hope you add more to Judiverse's book about TV shows. You give great commentary on movies and shows! Thanks so much! Hugs and blessings!
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Ingenious--was this a general brainstorm where you happened upon "liver" or did you already know of a few of these and find others? Regardless, brilliant!
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Ingenious--was this a general brainstorm where you happened upon "liver" or did you already know of a few of these and find others? Regardless, brilliant!
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 16-Dec-2021
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Thank you, Liz! I had just run into the Norwegian one which inspired the writing. My mom would say, so-and-so had a "big liver" so that is one I already knew. The Greek and the Persian sayings I learned a couple of years ago. Hugs!
Comment from PoemsOfDD
I've always wondered what this saying - "What am I, chopped liver?" - really meant and where it came from. I use it when I am being ignored from a conversation within my family and I'm sitting right there. I never knew so many countries use the term of liver for some saying or description. Very interesting.
This one - "I will eat your liver" is a way of saying, "I love you so intensely, I would do anything for you." - a bit weird but then again so is 'eat your heart out' meaning - go for it.
My contribution has been lax - crazy time this end - but I have very much enjoyed reading the many other idioms. Thank you very much for sharing.
reply by the author on 15-Dec-2021
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I've always wondered what this saying - "What am I, chopped liver?" - really meant and where it came from. I use it when I am being ignored from a conversation within my family and I'm sitting right there. I never knew so many countries use the term of liver for some saying or description. Very interesting.
This one - "I will eat your liver" is a way of saying, "I love you so intensely, I would do anything for you." - a bit weird but then again so is 'eat your heart out' meaning - go for it.
My contribution has been lax - crazy time this end - but I have very much enjoyed reading the many other idioms. Thank you very much for sharing.
Comment Written 15-Dec-2021
reply by the author on 15-Dec-2021
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Thank you so much, DD! I'm happy to see you when you can spare the minutes! I know it's a crazy time and I'm just ignoring my cards at the moment. I think, that maybe I'll just use email. Or, maybe I'll just answer the ones who send first! Lol. Appreciate the review! Hugs!