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Ask Mr. Know-It-All By Gary Lee Clothier
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: My mm used to say, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" Where did that phrase originate? Is it an American expression? I noticed there is a girl from Australia on "Dancing With the Stars" named Peta Murgatroyd. -- B.D., El Segundo, Calif.
A: "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" is, indeed, an American expression and dates from the mid-1900s. The expression was popularized by the cartoon character Snagglepuss on "The Yogi Bear Show" in the 1960s. The phrase is a variant of the older phrase "Heavens to Betsy!"
Snagglepuss may have popularized the phrase, but he was not the original user -- that was Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz") in the 1944 film "Meet the People."
Murgatroyd was a common surname of the English aristocracy, which may be where Peta Murgatroyd's name came from. By the way, her dance partner is Green Bay Packers' wide receiver Donald Driver.
Q: Summer is on its way, and it won't be long before the tattooed ladies show up on our beaches -- I'm not complaining, mind you. One tattoo that seems to be growing in popularity with younger females is worn on the lower back. This tattoo has a name, but I have no idea what it is. -- D.N.N., Atlantic City, N.J.
A: A tattoo of any design on the lower back is called a "tramp stamp." These tattoos became popular in the latter part of the 1990s. A few years back, even Barbie jumped on board: She was introduced with "Ken" written inside a red heart on her lower back.
Q: Twelve years ago, my husband and I visited Turkey. In a restaurant one evening we were served the most unusual dessert. It was made with shredded chicken and thickened milk. I have been trying to remember the name of this dish. I know the word "dibi" is in it. Can you help me out? Are there any recipes available? -- D.N.D., Santa Rosa, Calif.
A: The dish is called "kazandibi." It can be made with or without chicken. In most recipes, the thickening agent is rice flour. The milk, flour and sugar are cooked until thick and the bottom becomes burnt or caramelized. You can find the recipe in most books featuring Turkish cuisine or on the Internet.
If you or any other readers try kazandibi, let me know how you like it. Email me with the name in the subject line. If enough readers respond, I'll publish the results in a later column.
Q: I grew up in a small town in Ohio during the early '50s. My father had a small IGA grocery store. We later moved to California, but I don't remember seeing them out West. I'm curious when they started, and if they are still in business. -- B.M., Torrance, Calif.
A: IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) was founded in 1926. IGAs are located in 46 states and in more than 30 countries. IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the main company. The alliance claims to have more than 5,000 members, and it is headquartered in Chicago.
Q: I know actors say "break a leg" instead of "good luck" because they are superstitious. How and where did that get its start? Why do superstitious people think wishing each other bodily harm is less jinxing then wishing someone good luck? -- T.G., Ridley, Pa.
A: There are many explanations for the origin of this term. In my opinion, the most plausible is that there are many definitions for the word "break." The standout is "to deviate from a straight line." To me, this would be a bend in the knee like when one is bowing or curtsying. So those superstitious people aren't wishing bodily harm on the actor; they're suggesting the actor put on a performance good enough to warrant a bow or curtsy.
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© 2011, Gary Clothier DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK
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Arnold Ahlert | ||||||||||||
