It passed me by
I came across an expression I’ve never heard before; this is not in itself unusual, but, since it’s been in use since the 1970s, I’m surprised not to have encountered it. Perhaps it’s because I’m neither Scottish nor Irish. Maybe some of you are familiar with it and possibly even have used it.
‘Has the cat died?’ or ‘Is your cat deid?’ are Scottish or Irish expressions used to mock someone wearing trousers that are too short, that is, well above the ankle.
‘Half-mast parallels’ is a phrase which amused me, and is another with which I’m unfamiliar. It refers to short, narrow trousers. Maybe they are considered to be at ‘half-mast,’ like flags that are lowered in mourning.
Another suggestion is that a person might raise their trouser legs to stop mice running up them, because the cats, being ‘deid,’ were not available to dispatch them.
A further explanation is that poor people could not afford to buy black arm bands, which were worn as a sign of mourning, so cut off the ends of old trousers.
Incidentally, when I was growing up, in the Dark Ages, it was not uncommon to see people, usually men, wearing black arm bands. The last time I saw anyone wearing them was at the late Queen’s funeral, when many of the attendant participants wore black bands on their left arms.
Strangely I was just telling OH a story about a friend's father wearing black armband the day Roy Orbison died. Some people are devoted - both to their heros and to continuing tradition.
ReplyDeleteIt is a rather touching tradition, and good to see that it is still honoured by some.
DeleteI think our Australian Rules footballers still wear black armbands on the field when someone football related has died.
ReplyDeleteYes, our teams wear armbands on such occasions.
DeleteI wonder if the black armband crossed the ocean. If so, I doubt if it continued.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, too.
DeleteHere they are referred to as 'high water pants'. My daughter worked as an assistant to the CEO of charity that the queen and then-Prince Charles were patrons to. They actually had a couple run throughs to be prepared for her passing. She was a bit dumbfounded that no one had thought to order black arm bands. They were a bit dumbfounded that American was pointing it out to them.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at that. Well done, your daughter.
Delete'High water pants' - what a wonderful term.
I can't say I've heard of any of those expressions (but, for some reason, I thought of Alfred Hitchcock narrating your post of one of his shows.) On the other hand, yes...the armband is alive and well here in the states. Perhaps not black but some color or motto to honor someone or support some cause. In some sports, it's actually a specific color of sneakers, shoes, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think it shows respect to honour those who have been involved in a worthy enterprise.
DeleteLike Debby, we here in Germany call them high water pants/trousers (Hochwasserhosen). It was common for us kids in the 70s to see them on others and wear them, too - we were growing fast, and our parents could sometimes barely keep up buying new things.
ReplyDeleteThat is a sensible solution to the problem of fast-growing children.
DeleteMy sister and I are one year apart, and we have three cousins (two boys and a girl) who are also each one year apart. Whenever my oldest cousin got some new clothes, I knew that sooner or later these were going to be passed down the line of the five of us until I, and my youngest cousin after me, would get to wear them. Having something bought or made specifically for ME was a rare and special treat!
DeleteI have never heard those expressions, not surprising since I grew up in Australia. I thought black arm bands had gone out of fashion entirely until I saw footballers on the news wearing them, a while ago now, so I don't remember who died.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's a tradition that is being recognised anew.
DeleteInteresting! I know - and use - the half-mast expression.
ReplyDelete😄
DeleteIf someone’s petticoat was showing below their skirt we always said to them “Charlie’s dead” so they could discreetly hitch it up!
ReplyDeleteCountry Cook
That's an expression I recognise. It's believed that showing one's petticoat was a discreet way of showing support for Bonnie Prince Charlie.
DeleteOh and I do like your header photo - was it taken in Hampshire?
ReplyDeleteI’m pleased to have found your blog.
Country Cook
Thank you, and welcome. My header photograph was taken in Berkshire, actually not very far from the Hampshire border. 😀
DeleteThose are amusing expressions. I think ‘Half-mast parallels’ is now a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI think that expression is wonderful!
DeleteWe used to say "your trousers have divorced your ankles and married your knees".
ReplyDeleteThat's marvellous, It's on a par with 'my stomach thinks my throat's been cut.'
DeleteI only recognise the half mast version but I love the dead cat one!
ReplyDeleteTrust our Celtic neighbours . . .
DeleteI've never heard either of these expressions
ReplyDelete😄
ReplyDeleteAt the football over the weekend, the players of both teams wore black armbands, perfectly visible on the bare arms. They were honouring the people killed or wounded in the Bondi Massacre.
ReplyDeleteA mark of respect like that is very much appreciated.
DeleteI'm laughing at the image of mice running up my pant legs because my cat has died. And gone to cat heaven full of mice.
ReplyDeleteIt conjures up wonderful images, doesn't it?
DeleteI remember the formality of back armbands. These days people go to funerals in jeans and tee shirts!
ReplyDeleteWhile I like the idea of a funeral being a joyous celebration of life, there are limits, and I feel people should dress slightly more formally.
DeleteI can't recall having come across those expressions, but I do remember black armbands to mark grieving. Haven't seen that in a long time though (decades). Even at funerals people aren't necessarily wearing all black any more (I did not at those of my own parents) - even if nright colours still usually avoided...
ReplyDeleteStyle of dress depends on the wishes of the family of the deceased. I know funerals are sad occasions, but black is so sombre.
DeleteI have never seen anyone wearing a black arm band.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where the tradition arose.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDelete😊
DeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteI have.
DeleteThese are interesting cute sayings but must be very localized.
ReplyDeleteCommon to the Scots and Irish, apparently.
DeleteThat's fascinating. I love hearing about these sayings. Short trousers, when I was a girl long ago, were called 'floods' - I am guessing that the idea was that the hem would be above the water line. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteAs for armbands, only for royalty?
I love 'floods' - how wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBlack armbands are often worn at sporting events in memory of past players/coaches/managers.
I just started following you. I love discovering where the things we say originate. This one is crazy - mice crawing up pant legs - no thanks. More than a cat would have died...ahaha
ReplyDeleteWelcome! Not a prospect to relish, I agree!
ReplyDeleteRight now, in this country, there would be a place for black arm bands, I think! So much has died.
ReplyDeleteI commiserate with you.
DeleteI have not heard that phrase, but as kids, when someone's pants were too short, we'd ask, "Waiting for a flood?"
ReplyDeleteHilarious!
DeleteBlack arm bands are still a thing for men in Greece, but it's dying out.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of the cat deid or cutting off trouser legs. Very strange
Cutting off trouser legs does seem very odd - maybe it's an urban myth.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of those sayings either. Here we call pants that are too short, "high waters". Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteOne of our recent Prime Ministers always wore shorter trousers - the political cartoonists always referenced them.
DeleteI haven't heard of either expression. In fact, I'm not even sure the expression we use here in the States to describe pants that are too short.
ReplyDeleteYou're far too polite in your area, clearly. 😀🤣
DeleteGoodness, I don't ever remember seeing people wearing black armbands apart from, as you say, at state funerals.
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DeleteI've only seen them at sporting events recently.
DeleteWhen trousers were short, my grandmother used to say 'sailor boats in.' as seamen were supposed to have shorter trousers. Of course, she grew up in Birkenhead and the family were connected with seafaring.
ReplyDeleteThat's a colourful expression. 😄
DeleteI've never heard that phrase. Definitely not one that made its way to America, at least not with any longevity, despite vast numbers of Scottish and Irish people reaching North American shores. When I was growing up, it was humiliating to be caught wearing too-short long pants, or "high-water pants" as they were called. Now they're considered stylish!
ReplyDeleteFashions come and go, and it's amazing how closely they're followed.
DeleteYou do sometimes see black armbands being worn at sporting events in honour/memory of colleagues who have died.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I haven't seen them recently other than on such occasions.
ReplyDelete