Whatever floats your boat (1981)

[Dennis R. Preston]

>Is thr ur-form really "whatever turns you on." Whatever tickles your
>fancy" is surely older.

dInIs

>From:    "Douglas G. Wilson" douglas at NB.NET
>
><snip>
>
>: "Whatever turns you on" -- which I believe was the model and which
>: is/was usually exactly synonymous (I think) -- dates from 1970 by
>: N'archive and has "1970's" in the Cassell book.
>
>: Aside from the rhyme, why did the boat-floating version appear at
>: all? Is it 'euphemistic' (since "turns you on" appears to be related to
>: drugs and/or sex)? Is there some reference which I've missed?
>
>No idea, but i figured i'd note that i first heard the somewhat non- (less?)
>euphemistic version "Whatever lifts your skirt" in 1988 or, more likely,
>1987 in Pittsburgh.
>
>David Bowie                                         http://pmpkn.net/lx
>     Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
>     house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
>     chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic,
        Asian and African Languages
Wells Hall A-740
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027 USA
Office: (517) 353-0740
Fax: (517) 432-2736