Funny, Or Not So Funny, Things Dad Say

 

And now Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning¹ English! On this program we explore words and sayings in American English.

In the United States, we celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday in June. So, for today's show we will celebrate fathers, too!

Now, being a father is no easy task. To make it easier, some dads like to make jokes.

Jokes, of course, are supposed to be funny. But Dad jokes are known for being ... not funny. They are corny. They often result in eye rolls from the children who hear them. Many children are embarrassed when they and their friends are subjected to fatherly humor²!

In the way of the television

For example, here is a joke my father used to make when I was a child. He loved to watch baseball on television. If I came between him and the TV, he would say, "You make a better door than you do a window." In other words, "I can't see the TV. Move!"

Little did I know, he is not the only dad to say this. To research this story, I searched the web and found several sites that gather dad sayings. A list on BoredPanda.com included "you make a better door than you do a window."

Now, let's enjoy some other common and corny sayings among fathers.

Work

Now, let's talk about work. Dads love to say this to any worker in any kind of workplace: "So, are you working hard or hardly working?" Many, many, many, many children have been embarrassed at stores, restaurants, repair shops ... just about anywhere with that joke.

Money sayings

Dads have a few sayings they find funny about money. If your father gives you a little money, not a lot, he might say, "Don't spend it all in one place!" Or he might tell you to "keep the change!" when in fact, there is not much money left over.

Thanks, dad.

When it comes to paying a bill, dads' corny side really shines through. Before even looking at a bill, they might say something like, "What's the damage?" Or they might look at their young children and say, "I hope you brought your money!"

Cars

In life there are few guarantees. Thankfully, you can count on a father for many things. They are usually there for their children through good and bad times, or through thick and thin.

You can also count on many fathers to say the same things when they see another man washing a car. It is almost guaranteed that he will say one of two things. He will either say, "Hey, you can do mine next." or "You missed a spot! Ha, ha ...!"

Oh dad, that's a good one.

Time to go!

Now, let's talk about departures³. When it's time to leave, why just say, "Come on. Let's go..."?

Dads have so many interesting and really corny ways to say, "It's time to go." Here are just a few:

"Ready to skedaddle?"

"Let's rock and roll!"

"Time to hit the road."

Some fathers also like to talk as if they were cowboys of the Old West. They might say, "Saddle⁵ up partners!" "Time to hit the trail!" Another cowboy favorite is, "Let's get the heck out of Dodge⁶!"

The saddle is a seat for a horse rider. So, to saddle up means to get ready to go.

And the saying, "Let's get the heck out of Dodge!" means to escape a place quickly. Dodge City is a town in Kansas created in the 1800s. The frontier⁷ town saw lots of danger and action in its early days, including shoot-outs between lawmen and criminal groups passing through.

However, Dads who have never been on a horse nor have been to Dodge can use these expressions.

And remember, you don't have to be a father to use any of these expressions. Just know that if you do, expect a few eye-rolls in your general direction.

And that's it for this Words and Their Stories. Time for us to skedaddle!

Words in This Story

corny – adj. so simple, sentimental⁸, or old-fashioned⁹ as to be annoying

eye roll – n. an upward¹⁰ turning of the eyes especially as an expression of annoyance¹¹, exasperation¹², disbelief, etc

embarrassed – v. feeling or showing a state of self-conscious confusion¹³ and distress¹⁴

guarantee – n. a promise that something will happen or be done

departure⁴ – n. the act of leaving a place especially to start a journey

skedaddle – v. to leave immediately

trail – n. a route that someone follows to go somewhere or achieve something : a path through a forest, field, etc.

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 humor   

n.(humour)幽默，诙谐

参考例句：

• He is distinguished for his sense of humor.他以其幽默感著称。
• American humor is founded largely on hyperbole.美式幽默主要以夸张为基础。

3 departures   

n.离开，离去( departure的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He had never before been kept in ignorance concerning departures. 在这以前，家里有人出门还没有瞒过他。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Cancellations and late departures rarely rile him. 他很少因为约定取消或出发太晚而恼火。 来自辞典例句

4 departure   

n.离开，起程；背离，违反

参考例句：

• Do you know what lies behind her sudden departure for London?你知道她突然去伦敦的原因吗？
• She took over his work after his departure.他离开以后，她接替了他的工作。

5 saddle   

n.鞍，车座，山脊，拖具；vt.装以马鞍，使负担；vi.装马鞍

参考例句：

• The bicycle saddle is too high for this child.这辆自行车车座对这孩子来说太高了。
• We got the order to saddle up just after dawn.我们得到命令,天一亮就要上好马鞍。

6 dodge   

v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计

参考例句：

• A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪，才没被车从身上辗过。
• The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。

7 frontier   

n.国境，边境；尚待开发的领域

参考例句：

• The frontier station was starved for food and water.边防站急需食物和水。
• Areas near the frontier were rough and lawless in the old days. 过去边远地区混乱不堪，而且没有法律。

8 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

9 old-fashioned   

adj.旧式的，保守的，挑剔的

参考例句：

• Why do you still dress in an old-fashioned mode?你为什么还穿款式陈旧的衣服？
• Here is an old-fashioned pump for drawing water from a well.这里有一个旧式水泵可从井里抽水。

10 upward   

adj.向上的，上升的；adv.向上，上升

参考例句：

• The birds flew upward.鸟儿向上飞去。
• Prices have an upward tendency.价格有上升的趋势。

11 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

12 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

13 confusion   

n.困惑，迷乱，混淆，混乱，骚乱

参考例句：

• His answers to my questions have only added to my confusion.他对我的问题的回答只是使我更加困惑不解。
• His unexpected arrival threw us into total confusion.他的突然来访使我们完全不知所措。

14 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。