Jumper cables

[Dennis R. Preston]

It is pan-ethnic; I've heard it for at least four groups. It refers
to an event where lots of people drive, but the group is stigmatized
as having old, out-of-repair cars (a common slam on groups perceived
as poor); when they are ready to leave the event, they must all get a
jump to start their cars.

dInIs

>I heard an interesting ethnic slur(?) today:  "I was as busy as jumper cables
>at a Peurto Rican wedding".
>
>Has anybody heard this comparison before?
>
>Does anybody understand the allusion?
>
>       - Jim Landau


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor of Linguistics
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic, Asian, and African Languages
A-740 Wells Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: (517) 432-3099
Fax: (517) 432-2736
preston at msu.edu