antedatings: "tough luck," "oohs and ahs"

[Dennis R. Preston]

It's not a paradox if we jump back and forth between the metaphorical
and literal sense (which apparently these fourth-graders were able to
do easily). Tough titty = metaphor for "too bad,' "bad luck," tough
luck." Tough titty =  literally one difficult (or uncomfortable) to
withdraw milk (but it's still good).

Ahhh! Youth.

dInIs

>Apparently my fourth grade classmates were not logicians . . .
>
>>  This sounds like a paradox.  What can be good about tough luck?
>>
>>  JL
>>
>>  "Mullins, Bill" <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL> wrote:
>
>>
>>  >> And its alliterative counterpart, "tough titties".
>>  >
>>  >Extended version, from Nashville, TN, ca 1972: "Tough titty,
>>  >said the kitty, but the milk's still good."


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of English
Morrill Hall 15-C
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1036 USA
Office: (517) 453-4736
Fax: (517) 453-3755