Phrase-ology
THAT was a fun post earlier today. Y'all have had me thinking about it all afternoon. At first, I was very surprised that so many of you had not heard of "take what you get and don't throw a fit," until Melanie graciously reminded me that "get" and "fit" don't rhyme in all parts of the country.
Sorry, I forget. (Make that forgit.)
I bet you northerners also use a writing pen ("pehn") too, don't you? It's pronounced PIN, folks. Or, more accurately, a PEE-uhn.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Reading your responses and hearing that many of you find yourself sounding like your own parents makes me wonder: how many of you use the phrase "Because I said so!" with your kids?
Admit it. You swore you'd never say it. I swore I'd never say it. I want to know, in all honesty, if anyone has been able to keep that oath. Vote below.
Why?
Because I said so.












I'll have to blog about my confusion with "pen", "pan" and "pin" when I first moved to Arkansas and the plumber came to visit my roommate's house to fix the garbage disposal.
I totally use and understand "Take what you get and don't throw a fit", but I have now spent almost half my life below the Mason Dixon line, too.
My real name didn't have two syllables until I moved to the South, but now it does and I'm fine with it. : )
Posted by: peach | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:06 PM
I think "get" and "fit" rhyme, but only because I'm a southern belle in disguise. :)
I tried to take the poll, but it's not working for me.
I haven't said the phrase yet, but I'm sure it'll come out of my mouth sometime!
Posted by: dana | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:24 PM
Raised in AZ I had never heard the "take what you git" phrase until I moved to NC. Now i say it ALL THE TIME, in my best Carolinian drawl!
Posted by: Kellie | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Ok. I admit it. However, the first time, it came out it was "Because I'm your mother, and I say so".
And I turned to John, and said "Lord. I've become everything I swore I'd never be".
It was the end of an era.
Posted by: kelli | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:32 PM
I use a writing pen ("pehn") because I am a northerner. But I just love the southern pronunciation of words!!
And yes, I do say "because I said so" to my kids just like my Mom used to say to me. In fact, I even have a book called "Because I Said So."
Posted by: Sally | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:48 PM
I SWORE I would NEVER be like my mother EVER and so did hubby (his mother as well as mine) and then we became parents...and now it is because we said so!
Posted by: c.s. | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Sorry, no kida yet. But when I was a kid if there's 1 phrase that let me know my parents either didn't even bother to listen to me, or don't have a real reason for what they say it was "Because I said so." So, eventually all I heard was "I don't really care."
Just my point of view of that phrase. :-)
Oh, and I'm here today via Amanda's TT13 post
Posted by: Frigga | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Ah yes. Pee-yun. Like chee-yups and keee-yuds.
Y'all keeyuds stop eatin' up all 'em cheeyups or I'm gonna shut y'all up in the peee-yug pee-yun whar y'all buhlowng.
I say, "Because I said so" at LEAST three times daily. Thick headed, this kee-yud is. ;)
Posted by: Megan (FriedOkra) | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:55 PM
My 4yo DD's teachers this year include Jim, Jan, and Jen and we all have TX accents. I'm doomed to confusion.
Posted by: Carrie | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 03:57 PM
No kids here, but I have said "because I said so" to my students...
Posted by: Rambling Shan | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:08 PM
WHAT?!?!? Pin and pen don't rhyme?
Posted by: Smockity Frocks | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:16 PM
I do9n't get it--but then I am an English teacher's daughter born and bred in Western PA--which means we drink pop (soda is pop with icecream), a sub is called a hoagie, steak salsd has shaved steak and french fries on it, my mom baths instead of bathes, we warsh our clothes, poeple still use pokes instead of bags, and our dog says ruff, which rhymes with roof and sounds like oouf (the sound you make when someone hits you in the stomach, and we eat pierogies, keilbasa, fried chicken, and rigatoni at weddings
Posted by: Heather | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:16 PM
Equally incriminating, I have also used the words "Because your DAD said so!" I'm also a stepmom, and this is effective at reminding the kids that he is the disciplinarian, even when I get the honor of delivering the punishment.
Posted by: Dani | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:18 PM
Not only do I say that, I say many other things as well. Like in response to, "Why does he/she get to ... ?" We like to say, "Because we like him/her better." Saving up for therapy right now.
Posted by: chilihead | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:25 PM
It took me a while to figure out why you were clairifing get and fit to rhyme, then it hit me....those 2 words aren't poseta rhyme. Oops! I meant suppose to rhyme. HaHA
The one my Mom always said was "Get still" I never thought of it until my friend was sleeping over and she asked what "Get still" meant. I looked at her funny (didn't all Moms say it) and said, "Be quiet, NOW!!!!"
I don't say that one to my kids, but Grandma says it all the time and they know what it means!
Posted by: Mama | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:33 PM
Okay, since Chilihead came out with it, I'll admit that when our kids ask, "Why does he/she get to..." We say, "Because he/she is our favorite!" Some kid always blows our cover, though, and says, "Mommyyyyy! You said I was your favorite!"
Posted by: Smockity Frocks | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:40 PM
i voted that i have said that dreaded phrase but i don't think i've said it more than once or twice because i experienced a very bitter taste once the words left my mouth.
Posted by: diana/sunshine | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 04:49 PM
I had to laugh when I read this! I didn't realize it was supposed to rhyme!
I can't think of what I usually say, but it is similar in sentiment.
Sometimes I say, "Half a loaf is better than none," just to be a pain. We read that in "What Your [whatever] Grader Should Know" last year.
Posted by: Charity | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 05:50 PM
LOL! Of course it rhymes! Haven't had to say the "because I said so", but we're just entering the Twos here.
Posted by: Amanda Fowle | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 06:00 PM
i am from northern nj - drawers are draws...
and i have said "because i am the mommy.."
guilty as charged!
Posted by: Jill | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 06:28 PM
I fessed up with the first post. I never said I wouldn't say it. It is the truth, though. She is supposed to do what her parents say "just because." It might not be PC or touchy feely, but them's the breaks.
And if you think this sounds harsh, folks, just relax. I am only telling her to clean her room, not anything dangerous like, oh clean the garage.
:>)
Posted by: Melanie | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 08:50 PM
I don't LIKE to say it, but right now my 4yo is in the "But whyyyy" phase. Even to things that make totally no sense to ask why to, its just a stall tactic. Sometimes its the only way to make it stop.
Posted by: crystal | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 09:22 PM
We live in Seattle, but my in laws are all from Oklahoma. My MIL kept talking about this housing area called "chiminee hill", so I thought it was an Indian word. When we got there I saw the sign. CHIMNEY Hill Like as in the chim-ney that lets smoke out of your fireplace!
and its um-BREL-la, NOT UM-brella
Posted by: crystal | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 09:24 PM
they don't rhyme? really?
Posted by: Karen @ Simply A Musing Blog | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 09:26 PM
When I moved here, there was a lady in my church with the last name of Bell. Only, for about 6 months, I thought it was Bale - as in bale of hay. Finally I saw it in print and didn't know who she was because everyone always called her "Sis BALE"
It must have been funny listening to me with my yankee accent saying Sis BALE like everyone else. :)
Posted by: Liz | Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 09:26 PM