So one of the data stewards is doing a thesis on linguistics and asked me if we had any forbidden or taboo words/phrases in English.
I.e. She said in Hungary, if you have a headache, and ask someone for an aspirin and they give it to you, you can't say "Thank you". If you say it, the aspirin won't work.
If you can think of anything similar for English, please put it in the comments and I will pass them along to her.
Channeling Nixon?
15 years ago
13 comments:
One of our programmers thought of this one: when you blow out candles on a birthday cake and make a wish, if you tell anyone the wish it won't come true.
Had another couple of suggestions via email - not sure if this is what you are looking for but they are interesting anyway:
When two people are walking hand in hand and then split and walk on either side of a pole or person - some people say 'bread and butter' when you re-connect.
Also - rally hats. People at sports events turn their hats upside down at near the end of the game when their team needs to make a comeback.
I'll post more as I get them.
Ok one more - when people open fortune cookies and read the fortune - people will add "in bed" or "under the sheets" to the end of the fortune.
We have a saying - Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Liquor before beer, have no fear.
There is a children's saying when walking on a sidewalk - "step on a crack, break your mother's back"
Thought of this one and took the explanation from Wikipedia: "Break a leg" is a well-known saying in theatre which means "good luck". It is typically said to actors before they go out onto stage to perform.
The expression is a theatrical superstition that replaces the phrase "good luck," which is considered bad luck.
If a pitcher for a baseball team is pitching a perfect game, you aren't supposed to mention it or it 'jinxes' it.
I hadn't heard this one - but when Googling I saw that it is bad luck to say the "MacBeth" or the name of the play you are watching while in a theatre.
Isn't there some type of Hispanic tradition where you aren't supposed to say complimentary things to a baby without immediately saying something negative to "counteract" any possibility that an evil spirit might become jealous or whatever ?
It's that you can't compliment the baby without touching it afterwards. Otherwise you give it el mal ojo (evil eye). But I'm pretty sure that she needs just English stuff. :)
The only thing I can think of is if someone hands you an open knife to cut something with or to admire, you must return it open or you will "cut" the friendship.
Mom
I was going to mention the "don't talk to a pitcher with a no-hitter" (not just a perfect game, you can have no-hitters without being a perfect game), "don't wish a performer good luck" and "don't say MacBeth in a theater" ones, but I've been beaten to it.
For what it's worth, the "don't wish a performer good luck" applies to ballet and concert musicians as well.
Also, wishing a jockey "good luck" before a race is taboo.
Thanks for y'all!!!:)These things are really helpful!Go on brainstorming and writing!;)
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