Reader Opinions
Smith – (good egg) April 26, 2022
I grew up in LA and I heard the phrase all the time. But my parents came from New York so maybe they brought it with them!
Anonymous – (southpaw) April 25, 2022
The term probably originated from baseball, where fields are positioned facing eastward to avoid the sun interfering with the game. Because of this, left-handed pitchers tend to face southward when taking the mound.
mark – (the devil is beating his wife) April 22, 2022
I’ve heard this expression many times. I figure it’s a phrase indicating the oxymoron of rain without clouds, just as ridiculous as the Devil having a wife. In short just another way of saying something strange is occurring.
Mercury Lewis – (charity begins at home) April 18, 2022
The closest Bible story to this idom is when Jesus says, ” for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife.”
And also when Jesus directs the young disciple to go home first after his deliverance. ( My thoughts)
Brooke Peterson – (the devil is beating his wife) April 18, 2022
I was born in South Carolina I remember hearing that when it’s raining and the sun is shining the devil was beating his wife. I’ve been living in Nebraska for the last 11 years and I haven’t heard anyone else say it but I have told a lot of people so who knows!
Paul Jonah – (the devil is beating his wife) April 18, 2022
I was raised in New Brunswick, Canada and my parents used thus expression a lot. There are many Pennsylvania Dutch ( Deutsch) as well as Scottish/ Irish in the area. It was always used when there was a sun shower.
Sharon – (the devil is beating his wife) April 10, 2022
Family from lower Mississippi and Louisiana. I heard, “Devil is beating his wife for putting salt in the red beans.” 🙂
Ora Stevens – (chew the fat) April 9, 2022
Chewing the fat was supposedly from Indian natives chewing hides to soften it for leather uses.
Lanna Banana MooMoo – (keep your nose clean) April 8, 2022
This idiom has, unsurprisingly, turned into slang for cocaine. Essentially meaning “you need to keep your nose clean so lay off cocaine” ~Or~ “you shouldn’t try cocaine. Instead you should keep your nose clean.” ~Or~ “cocaine is a difficult addition to break so it’s to just keep your nose clean.”
Anonymous – (hot potato) April 7, 2022
How did the phrase turn into a children’s game?
