[Lexicog] happy-go-lucky

[David Tuggy]

fwiw I had always linked the "go" in "happy-go-lucky" with the one in 
"easy come easy go" or in "easy going". "Happy-go-lucky" doesn't mean 
lucky, it means blithely (and perhaps stupidly) unconcerned, happy 
whether things come or go, considering oneself lucky either way.

A "go" I haven't noticed anybody mention yet in the discussion is the 
one in "the cow goes MOO" "the pig goes OINK", etc. I think it was 
probably a major source for the verb "go" meaning "say (in a certain 
manner)".

It'd be interesting to compare what words languages use for some of 
these concepts. In Spanish "hacer" 'do/make' is used for the imitative 
animal sound kind of construction. In some Nahuatl it's 'say', others 
prefer that you specify singing or shouting or something like that. In 
some Nahuatl "tlen kichiwa" (lit. 'what does it/she/he do') means 
"what's it/she/he like?"

--David T

Fritz Goerling wrote:

> Nick,
>  
> I doubt that there is a link between ".. go-lucky" and "geluk" 
> (Glück). By the way, "Glück" in German
> can mean both "luck" and "happiness" according to context, whereas in 
> English you have two words
> "luck" and "happiness".
> A "lucky dog" is a "Glückspilz" (lucky mushroom).
> In English you would say "someone is happily married (not luckily 
> married)". In German there is
> only one word "glücklich (verheiratet)". There is no equivalent for 
> "happy single" in German
> although "happy singles" exist.
> Luck vs. bad luck is Glück vs. Pech (= pitch) in German. 
> Or there is the contrast of "Glück" and "Unglück"" like in the 
> expression "Glück im Unglück"
> (lucky in a disaster).
>  
> Fritz
>  
>
>>>I suspect it is not actually anything to do with /to go/ although
>     it would be really good to know for sure...what ideas have you had
>     or heard...?
>
>      
>
>     http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lucky&searchmode=phrase
>     <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lucky&searchmode=phrase>
>     says rather cryptically that the phrase is "from 1672". That's all
>     it says about it??
>
>     Has it got anything to do with DE "geluk" (Glück) perhaps, Fritz?
>     Or maybe it's a shortened form of something else, as Simon seems
>     to hint.
>
>     It might be worth asking the BBC - you know those radio programs
>     they have for learners on the World Service. They often come up
>     with the goods. (I sent them a quick email just now)
>
>     Nick Miller
>
>      
>
>
>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>     avast! Antivirus <http://www.avast.com>: Odchozi zprava cista.
>
>     Virova databaze (VPS): 0536-3, 09.09.2005
>     Testovano: 9.9.2005 12:01:31
>     avast! - copyright (c) 2000-2004 ALWIL Software.
>
>
>
>
>     SPONSORED LINKS
>     Science kits
>     <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Science+kits&w1=Science+kits&w2=Science+education&w3=Science+kit+for+kid&w4=Science+education+supply&w5=My+first+science+kit&c=5&s=122&.sig=TgQsfJHPbEZEAvP6aMpFjQ>
>     	Science education
>     <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Science+education&w1=Science+kits&w2=Science+education&w3=Science+kit+for+kid&w4=Science+education+supply&w5=My+first+science+kit&c=5&s=122&.sig=JUrvd4yfihK6jV_lf4MgmA>
>     	Science kit for kid
>     <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Science+kit+for+kid&w1=Science+kits&w2=Science+education&w3=Science+kit+for+kid&w4=Science+education+supply&w5=My+first+science+kit&c=5&s=122&.sig=gTMI3KLIk6cgqfGndODxKA>
>
>     Science education supply
>     <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Science+education+supply&w1=Science+kits&w2=Science+education&w3=Science+kit+for+kid&w4=Science+education+supply&w5=My+first+science+kit&c=5&s=122&.sig=M4_wjdaaU-GvM4TT4xtDBg>
>     	My first science kit
>     <http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=My+first+science+kit&w1=Science+kits&w2=Science+education&w3=Science+kit+for+kid&w4=Science+education+supply&w5=My+first+science+kit&c=5&s=122&.sig=3w0ywAEte3x7ESpTtFpyNA>
>
>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>     YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>         *  Visit your group "lexicographylist
>           <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lexicographylist>" on the web.
>            
>         *  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>            lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com
>           <mailto:lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
>            
>         *  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
>           Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/HKE4lB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lexicographylist/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/