Hit a bull in the butt with a banjo (1929); Spit & holler "Howdy!"

[Jonathan Lighter]

Nope. Just walk and chew gum.

  JL

Bapopik at AOL.COM wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Bapopik at AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Hit a bull in the butt with a banjo (1929); Spit & holler
"Howdy!"
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But can the HDAS spit & holler "Howdy!"?
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22 July 1929, Reno (NV) Evening Gazette, pg. 7:
Then came another letter in argument in which the wise crack was pulled that
Wanninger wasn't near the shortstop that Ford is and that he couldn't hit a
bull with a bass fiddle.
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_BEAR QUINTET SEEKS REVENGE; California Five Tackles Trojans Tonight S.C.'s
Surprise Win Annoys Berkeley Boys Kintana and Nemer Resume Scoring Feud _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=379678011&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VIns
t=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1160847745&clientId=65882)
BRAVEN DYER. Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Jan
11, 1932. p. 9 (2 pages)
First page:
When S.C. went into a shell, leading 3 to 0, the boys opined that the
Trojans "couldn't hit a bull in the nose (or some such word) with a banjo." As the
game progressed and California's chances of victory dwindled to practically
nothing, the inebriated chaps began to suspect that their team wasn't doing so
well. "Why, Nibs's boys can't hit a bull in the nose with a banjo," said one
of the fellows sadly. Maybe Nibs had his boys out yesterday practicing
swatting bulls with banjos.
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_SOARING SOLONS INVADE WRIGLEY FIELD FOR SERIES_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=1&did=396795681&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309
&VName=HNP&TS=1160847947&clientId=65882)
BOB RAY. Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Jul
27, 1937. p. A9 (2 pages)
First page:
To make this situation even worse, none of the Seraphs can hit a bull in the
ear with a paddle--especially when there are runners in scoring position.
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_Fullilove, Two Others Won't Play; Young, Mickey Parks, Sanford Join Club;
Baugh Given Ribs About Movie Job _
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=299851332&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=11
60847947&clientId=65882)
By Walter Haight Post New Mexico Correspondent. The Washington Post
(1877-1954). Washington, D.C.: Aug 17, 1941. p. SP3 (1 page)
Sammy Baugh, who can hit a bull in the ankle with a forward pass, and Ki
Aldrich, obtained by the Redskins from the Chicago Cardinals, joined their
teammates here.
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_Fierce Bombing of American Ships in Red Sea Described_
(http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=414013021&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&
RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1160848179&clientId=65882)
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File). Los Angeles, Calif.: Oct 24, 1941. p.
11 (1 page)
"The only thing that saved our lives," said Stowe, whose ship was a target
for stukas, "was the fact the Nazis didn't seem to be able to hit a bull astern
with a bass fiddle."

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