"Kicking footballs"

[Scot LaFaive]

It is usually used when someone asks someone else where something is. For example, if a friend asks you "Where are my car keys?" you might answer "If they were up your ass kicking footballs you'd know." Not the most helpful answer.
I've probably heard this phrase mostly in the Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire, WI area, maybe even exclusively. Kind of weird what we take for granted in language, assuming what we say is common knowledge.
Scot L.



> Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:33:44 -0400> From: douglas at NB.NET> Subject: Re: "Kicking footballs"> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------> Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>> Poster: "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET>> Subject: Re: "Kicking footballs"> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------> > >I've always considered the phrase "up your ass kicking footballs" (as in> >if you ask someone where the phone is, they might say "If it was up your> >ass kicking footballs you'd know it/know where it is") to be fairly> >common. But imagine my horror when I look in The Google and only find two> >hits (one with "kicking" and one with "kickin"). Am I wrong? Is this not a> >common phrase? I've heard it quite a few times here in Wisconsin (mainly> >central WI), but now I'm wondering if I haven't heard it from the same> >three people all my life. My world really isn't that small, is it?> > I've never heard it or anything much like it. I lived in Madison WI area> for 8 years. Maybe I didn't get out enough. What is the meaning of the> expression?> > -- Doug Wilson> > > --> No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.16/504 - Release Date: 10/27/2006> > ------------------------------------------------------------> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
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