Anyone know how shithouse rats became "the" definition of crazy?
Anyone know how shithouse rats became "the" definition of crazy?
Proud member of the '09 Phanters! K.I.L.L. S.M.U.R.F.S.
Have you ever wondered if your mom kissed you goodnight after giving your dad a blowjob? You are now. "To be second in space is to be second in everything," LBJ
I'm more curious about the phrase "bat-fuck insane."
Sounds like a really intense weekend.
As for your question, it's a line from The Abyss. Don't know if it shows up anywhere earlier than that, though.
Something tells me we haven't seen the last of foreshadowing.
I'm afraid I don't have any cites for the first use of this, but it was certainly around in the UK in 1993. As it's probably an Americanism, I suspect it was around some years before that in the southern States.Originally posted by AllWalker
As to what it actually means, the answer is probably "nothing". The last 15 years or so have seen an explosion in absurdist imagery for the sake of emphasis, which seems to have been driven by the internet in general, and comedy sites specifically. There probably isn't a sensible etymology to be found for it.
Anything is possible if you use enough lubricant.
Well, you'd have to be crazy to live in a shithouse, wouldn't you?
LOL!Originally posted by Q.E.D.
I thought Heinlein had used "crazy as a shithouse rat" in some of his writings. At least, that's where I remember getting it.
The panther is like the leopard, except it hasn't been peppered.
If you see a panther crouch, prepare to say "ouch!".
Better yet, if called by a panther, don't anther.
- Ogden Nash
Well, its certain to not be original to Cameron's The Abyss (I liked the movie better when it was called 2001: A Space Odyssey :wink: ).Originally posted by phouka
Proud member of the '09 Phanters! K.I.L.L. S.M.U.R.F.S.
Have you ever wondered if your mom kissed you goodnight after giving your dad a blowjob? You are now. "To be second in space is to be second in everything," LBJ
I always heard this one as "bat-shit insane."Originally posted by AllWalker
I'm not good at the advice. Can I offer you a sarcastic comment instead?
And "bat-shit crazy."
I believe this query needs to be turned over to those who will study rats and their habitat of choice, as well as representative sampling of all habitat groups for a measure of relative intelligence. Would one of our members wish to apply for a grant?
Opportunity is missed by most people, because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison
I've heard that variant as well. I first came across the phrase here, though, so that is how I use it.Originally posted by BiblioCat
Something tells me we haven't seen the last of foreshadowing.
I've heard bat-shit crazy as well.. .and have always assumed it was a cruder, more colorful riff on the old 'bats in the belfry'.
the phrase is supposed to be NUTTY as a shithouse rat. Shit being filled with nuts, you see.
I first heard it as shithouse mouse. Wambaugh used it in The Blue Knight, I believe, written back in the 70s, but I had heard it in grade school in the 50s.
Political correctness will be the death of our country.
Shithouse mouse rhymes too much. It puts me off.
Really, what is wrong with a nice, simple bat-fuck insane? That's the way Dad did it, that's the way America does it, um...
Something tells me we haven't seen the last of foreshadowing.