Have you ever considered the phrases "taking a shit", or "taking a dump"? How did we get around to thinking of faeces as something we 'take'? I mean, seriously... when I go into a toilet, I am definitely not planning on taking shit anywhere. In fact, I intend the opposite. I go to toilets to deliver shit, not take it.
The image is really disturbing. And we know it's disturbing, because we use the term "taking shit" when we speak of being abused by someone. In fact, we hope not to take any shit from anyone.
Nevertheless, we still go to the toilet to take a shit.
I think I'm going to start a campaign to undermine this bizarre bit of English. From now on, whenever anybody tells me they're about to "take a shit" or any variation thereof, I'm going to ask them what they're going to do with it, and where they plan to keep it once they've taken it. I may also ask them to make sure they don't take any of mine...
Hamburgers, the superfood.
9 hours ago
I've always used the term 'giving' a shit.
ReplyDeleteIt is a quirk of modern English. But if that quirk bothers you, you should be even more troubled by the expression "taking time."
ReplyDeleteThere is a whole Freudian thing with 'with holding our shit' and control our shit as a developmental phase. The uncyclopidia has its own skewed take on it
ReplyDeletehttp://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Give_a_shit
You take it to the toilet and then leave it there.
ReplyDeleteThat's how I always understood the phrase. I wouldn't specifically mention the toilet, it would be implied.
I'm with you! Another one that puzzles me is turning OUT the lights! We turn them ON not in... so why don't we turn them OFF???
ReplyDeleteI'd say that the light thing is candle/fire hang over MM, you put out a candle/fire.
ReplyDelete