APAD: Full of piss and vinegar

7
7grizzly
楼主 (文学城)

Meaning:

   Rowdy, boisterous, full of youthful energy.

 

Background:

   The earliest citation I've found is from 1936 in John Steinbeck's novel In

   Dubious Battle:

     "Listen, mister," London said, "them guys is so full of piss and vinegar

     they'll skin you if you show that slick suit outside."

 

   Steinbeck was clearly pleased with the phrase (although it is unlikely that

   he coined it himself) and repeated the use of it 1938 in his better known

   novel The Grapes of Wrath:

 

     Grampa walked up and slapped Tom on the chest, and his eyes grinned with

         affection and pride. "How are ya, Tommy?"

     "O.K.," said Tom. "How ya keepin' yaself?"

     "Full a piss an' vinegar," said Grampa.

 

   Peter B. Kyne's 1922 novel "They Also Serve" includes what seems to be a

   straightforward polite alternative to `piss and vinegar':

 

     "He's full of pep and vinegar and wild for exercise."

 

   Vinegar has been in the language as the name of the familiar liquid since the

   12th century. During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy

   and that's the meaning in `piss and vinegar' and `pep and vinegar'. At that

   time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the

   language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance.

 

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I have personally witnessed two types after a certain age, let's say 70. The

first waste away in bitterness and fear despite of having all the care they

need. The second, oblivious to the wonders of high-tech and modern medicine, run

around full of piss and vinegar till the end.

最西边的岛上
a funny one ;-). my neighbours r of the 3rd type, have high
最西边的岛上
alsoSee 4of vim/spit &vinegar.Guess everyoneLikes vinegar;-)
最西边的岛上
tech & medicine, but r still bitter (1+2=3 after all ;-))
7
7grizzly
They fly in the face of the nostrum of modernity.
7
7grizzly
Good2know. Others come and go, vinegar stays.
最西边的岛上
but neighbours In their80s r 4 of fun: one even glued her

one even glued her fingers together when tried repairing something 

luckily one neighour used to be nurse and helped her to open them up. 

 

Here is the chalk drawing (with 8 candles == 80 years) I did on her driveway for her B-day, during the Covid lock-down time in 2020:

 

 

 

 

7
7grizzly
You draw well on concrete too!
暖冬cool夏
所以要多吃醋:) for no other reason than linguistic exuberance.+1
暖冬cool夏
Read a few Steinbeck‘s. Totally understand his repetition.
最西边的岛上
醋太多对胃不好 ;-)&"U get moreFlies w/ honey than withVinegar" ;-)
7
7grizzly
Okay. New year resolution: to finish The Grape of Wrath :-)
天边一片白云
Good handwriting and drawing
天边一片白云
Full of Vinegar 没有嫉妒的意思?
移花接木
Vivid, if I a had shot of vinegar while hold a piss, I'd

leap to the urinal, 

最西边的岛上
don't know, just checked: it if full of acid "CH?COOH". LOL
最西边的岛上
LOL, LOL, LOL ...
7
7grizzly
Western vinegar means vitality, not jealousy.
7
7grizzly
a powerful combo indeed.
天边一片白云
Haha
天边一片白云
Good. I like vinegar