Sayings

I thought that the pot calling the kettle black was because they'd both become blackened from being over the fire?

Maybe people associated pollen bags with bees knees?

I love sayings, they fascinate me, especially the way they dont' make sense and yet they do, in that we know what's meant even if logically it's ridiculous. One of my ex mother in laws, is an example of this, 'It's all a load of horse p1ss and stamp in it', makes no sense whatsoever, except its such a good description of someone having a tantrum over not a lot.

Ye probably. I understand that it's hypocritical though for something that was black or blackened calling something else out for being black or blackened.

I'm not sure what pollen bags are?

I get fixated with them but they annoy me when they don't make sense. I prefer people to say what they mean. I do like good ones that make sense to me though.

My most hated is they call a spade a spade. Well yes because it's a spade. And no a shovel is not the same as a spade.

Ye probably. I understand that it's hypocritical though for something that was black or blackened calling something else out for being black or blackened.

I'm not sure what pollen bags are?

I get fixated with them but they annoy me when they don't make sense. I prefer people to say what they mean. I do like good ones that make sense to me though.

My most hated is they call a spade a spade. Well yes because it's a spade. And no a shovel is not the same as a spade.

If it's designed for digging then it's a spade. They can have a flat end rather than a point but it will still be sharp enough to dig into the ground. Shovels are designed for carrying. They can be small or large but wouldn't be much use digging as the end is blunter. 

I've never heard of a Cornish shovel so I don't know how that fits in.

That is interesting. I call the one with a flat end a spade for digging a garden. A shovel is smaller like we used to use to shovel coal from the bucket to put in the coal scuttle to bring indoors. Then to confuse matters there is a Cornish Shovel which is a long handled spade with a pointy end. That is also useful for gardening.

Sorry I see you originally phrased it clearly but I had scanned over it too quickly. Yes, it reminds me of a more recently emerged phrase/saying, “It is what it is”. I don’t understand that one.

Yes I know the difference. My point is when I question the saying they call a spade a spade and ask what else you would call a spade, people say shovel. And they are not the same thing. So what else would you call a spade? It just seems a really stupid saying to me.

The spade is the one with a thicker, often narrower sharp end that can cut into a flower bed and you can lift a chunk of earth out.

A shovel can be used to shovel up coal from a coal bunker, or horse droppings from a concreted stable yard, but it wouldn’t be used to cut anything. 

Ah I see.

Exactly. Yet if I ask someone what else you would call a spade, their answer is always a shovel.

Pollen bags are what bees collect pollen in for transport back to the hive or nest.

A spade has a blade and a shovel is a big spoon! Quite different.