Category Archives: Proverbs

The stick that went up the camel’s ass – Joke

Nationality: Irish/German
Age: 19
Occupation: Business Undergraduate Student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Residence: Champaign Apartments in Champaign, IL
Language: English

Text:

The stick that went up the camel’s ass

Context:

“One time me and best friend were talking about how shitty our week had been, and I specifically told her about how finding a hole in my sweater was my breaking point. I was like, ‘this is officially the camel’s back thing,’ and she was so confused but kind of understood what I meant. We were so stuck on what the exact saying was–it was on the tips of our tongue–so I think she was like, ‘wait isn’t there like a stick or something… the stick that something the camel…’ and to be funny she was like, ‘oh! The stick that went up the camel’s ass!’ It clicked with me then that the correct saying was, “the stick that broke the camel’s back,” but we genuinely died laughing at her version for a whole minute. It was so funny. So now, when something particularly frustrating happens, we’ll look at each other super seriously and say, ‘this is like the stick that went up the camel’s ass,’ and die laughing. It’s so stupid, and we always get weird stares, but it’s still funny every time.” 

Analysis:

This joke originates from the proverb “the stick that breaks the camel’s back.” This proverb is a metaphor for how something small (like a stick) can affect someone so much that it becomes their breaking point despite how strong (like a camel’s back) they seem in comparison. Where this phrase evolves is in how the “folk”– or these two best friends– recalled the saying. In injecting their own spin on the phrase, the saying became a new phrase in only their folk vocabulary, which they ritualistically use in times of hardship to ease tension. The exclusivity of this phrase is further emphasized as this person mentions they get weird stares from others when spoken as others are in the out-group when it comes to this folklore.

F.I.T.F.O. – Slang

Nationality: Irish/German
Age: 19
Occupation: Undergraduate Business Student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Residence: Champaign Apartments in Champaign, IL
Language: English

Text:

F.I.T.F.O. (Figure It The Fuck Out)

Context:

“I’m in an investment banking org called [REDACTED] and to fit in with the finance bros, I started saying F.I.T.F.O. or Figure It The Fuck Out because ya know, sometimes you just don’t have time to do help someone or someone keeps slacking on a project and it’s just like F.I.T.F.O.!”

Analysis:

The performer is an investment banking female who’d mentioned she felt it hard to fit in with other people in her profession as it’s a male-dominated field, so she’s made an extra effort to learn the slang to be a part of the in-group. The occupational folk group of business people tends to need an air of professionalism, hence, it being an acronym as the full saying is too vulgar. Additionally, with the spirit of business being one that encourages one to take initiative at fast paces, F.I.T.F.O. makes succinct sense in telling someone to professionally (and somewhat aggressively) do their due diligence.

好狗不挡路/Good mutts don’t get in the way – Proverb

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 19
Occupation: Undergraduate Student at the University of Southern California
Residence: University of Southern California Parkside Dormitory
Language: Chinese

Text:

好狗不挡路 (hǎo gǒu bù dǎng lù)

Translation:

Good mutts don’t get in the way

Context:

“This saying is extremely prevalent in Chinese media such as novels or films, and it basically means to mind your own business. I don’t hear it said often as it’s considered a curse, and it’s pretty rude. It’s been around for so long that one of the most martial hero novel classics play off of this proverb.”

Analysis:

This proverb implies that people who are well-mannered should know their place and not cause any trouble. However, with the context of this being considered a curse, the phrase “good mutt” implies the receiver is nothing but an obedient pawn who shouldn’t “get in the way,” implying there is an “…or else.” It is especially prevalent in Chinese culture as it reflects a Confucian influence on social order and the emphasis on respecting those who are superior, with hierarchy typically based on age and duty.

Teaching the Fishermen How to Fish

Text: “I’m teaching the fishermen how to fish right now.”

Context: Whenever my boyfriend teaches me how to do any kind of skill that involves housework or life skills in general, he always says this phrase. He has said this while teaching me to work his laundry machine, how to fold certain clothes in a more efficient way, and other ways of organizing other house items.

Analysis: By saying this, he references this popular phrase: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” I would say that this proverb is used in situations similar to the original saying and meaning. My boyfriend wants to teach me a skill that I can keep doing for myself instead of just doing it for me once and having to rely on him. I believe the first time he said this to me, he asked me if I knew what the phrase was. We both remembered hearing it but I couldn’t say it word for word, so he just made up his own shortened version of the proverb: I’m teaching the fisherman how to fish. I think it’s interesting that neither of us knew the proverb, and when asking my boyfriend about it, he still doesn’t know what it was until I looked it up for this project and told him. It makes me think about how popular sayings can be misinterpreted or shortened through oral telling until the meaning of the original proverb is lost. In this case, I don’t think the original meaning was entirely lost. However, I can see how easy it is for sayings to be twisted into something else entirely.

“Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket”

Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Bay Area, California

Text: The phrase “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” means you shouldn’t rely on just one option or opportunity because it can limit you. It’s a reminder to keep your focus on other things in life and not put all your energy into a single choice.

Context: “I learned this saying as a way to keep myself from becoming too focused on one thing. “My family taught me this piece of advice too that helps me to always remember to stay open to other possibilities, especially when there are multiple options to consider.” “In a way this has become a must say phrase to myself when considering multiple things that can overwhelm me.”

Analysis: This phrase is about not limiting yourself by focusing only on one thing. It’s a reminder to stay open-minded and think about all the opportunities to choose from, rather than focusing too much into just one. It’s a simple way to approach life and decisions, helping to reduce the risk of putting too much into something that might not work out, and it’s nice because this is also a sentiment from her family that was almost passed down.