HMPRESENTLY: Oldies But Goodies

I get ribbed for using old words and expressions.

Now… a word like ‘choppers’ — that’s my kind of word. Especially when there’s something like dental implant advertising on the TV.

Comedians of yore almost always got hearty guffaws when they referred to someone’s teeth as ‘choppers.’

‘Guffaws.’ That’s my kind of word, too. And expressions like ‘sharp as a tack,’ as well, when there’s advertising about, allegedly, brain-sharpening tonics. Take a swig of some tonic and — says someone in an ad… an actor, maybe? — you’ll be sharp as a tack.

‘Pickle.’ That’s another oldie but goodie when, rather than saying someone’s in a real bind, one says ‘What a pickle’ someone’s in!

Words shape opinion. Being in a real pickle suggests that someone’s in a really serious mess, but with a slight hint of whimsy.

Former President Trump’s incessant narratives — his constant carping — about ‘fake news’ influenced opinion of news media and journalists.

‘Carping.’ That’s another good old word if, let’s say, you’re picturing Mr. Trump bellowing, fuming and frowning, and getting all flushed in the face. We’ve seen him displaying such emotions, flying off the handle, which he did extensively, prior to, and throughout his four years at the White House. Getting questions from reporters he didn’t like, we’d see him steaming up and erupting like a volcano.

And now others are playing word games, with their constant carping about various subjects du jour. One thing politicians have mastered – some of them – is picking at scabs, instead of bandaging wounds. Picking at scabs. That’s awfully graphic!

‘Ruminating.’ There’s another one. Politicians seem to get a charge out of ruminating on things. ‘Ruminating,’ meaning ‘something to chew on,’ like chewing on cud, which cows do, regularly. They bring recent meals back up from their stomach, to chew even more on them.

Various politicians sure seem to be doing that, when they keep bringing up all their favorite disparaging remarks.

Bringing it all up, right from their stomachs. Chewing on their cud. Can you picture that?

I’ll bet you can!

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