Re: A Tcl/Tk Magazine?

Dan Smart wrote:
> John Perry wrote:
> ...
>>> ...
>>> And "brownie point" are just generic kudos expressing appreciation,
>>> and they cannot be redeemed. ;)
>>>
>>
>> Talk about euphemisms!
>>
>> John Perry (former sailor :-)
>>
> There are some questions I just know I'm going to regret asking, but
> still I ask them anyway: What do you think "brownie point" means?
>

Ugh. I knew I would regret this when I saw my post in the newsgroup.
Wish I'd been more aware before I did it.

People who are unctuous toward superiors and seniors are said to be
licking a certain part of the superior's anatomy that is characterized
by brown material. Their noses are said to turn brown as a result.
Doing this is referred to as "collecting brownie points".

Similar cleansing of slang has occurred with snafu, fubar, screw, etc.
The graphic originations, of course, precede the cleansed definitions,
but when the cleansed definitions become common, the origin is
frequently lost in the past.

I wish I'd left it there. Sorry.

jp
Received on Sun Dec 11 13:53:46 2005