"Give me some sugar" ... alive and well

[Charles Doyle]

Many "affection" terms are metonymically moveable; even "Give me some love (or loving)" would be susceptible to such various usages.

In recent years (in Georgia) I have heard "Give me some sugar" said only to small children by grandmothers, aunts, and other high-minded adults (mostly female). However, I don't move in circles where the sexual sense might prevalently occur.

--Charlie
_____________________________________________________________

---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:57:46 -0500
>From: Dan Lassiter <lassiter at NYU.EDU>
>Subject: Re: "Give me some sugar" ... alive and well

>
>There's a Nina Simone song called "Sugar in my bowl" that suggests that the meaning of 'sugar' might be broader than just 'kiss' among certain speakers (though she uses 'a little sugar' and not 'some sugar'). Also, there's the Def Leppard song "Pour some sugar on me", which doesn't seem to be about just kissing.
>
>Here are the lyrics to Nina's song:
>
>I want a little sugar in my bowl
>I want a little sweetness down in my soul
>I could stand some lovin' oh so bad
>Feel so lonely and I feel so sad
>
>I want a little steam on my clothes
>Maybe I could fix things up so they'll go
>Whatsa matter Daddy Come on, save my soul
>Drop a little sugar in my bowl
>I ain't foolin'
>Drop a little sugar in my bowl
>
>Well I want a little sugar in my bowl
>Well I want a little sweetness down in my soul
>You been acting strangely I've been told
>Move me Daddy
>I want some sugar in my bowl
>
>I want a little steam on my clothes
>Maybe I can fix things up so they'll go
>Whatsa matter Daddy
>Come on save my soul
>Drop a little sugar in my bowl I ain't foolin'
>Drop some sugar- yeah- in my bowl.
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Date:    Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:16:29 -0600
>From:    Joseph Salmons <jsalmons at WISC.EDU>
>Subject: Re: "Give me some sugar" ... alive and well
>
>Some sugar = 'a kiss.'
>
>

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org