“Full of spit and vinegar” meaning
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I was reading a book and couldn't understand the meaning of this:
After all, how many times had her father complained that she was full of more spit and vinegar than most boys?
I searched, but I could only find mixed opinions that it could be both offensive and non-offensive meanings.
The only trustful source I found was on Oxford dictionary as "agressive energy". Can anyone explain it better? I want to grasp the full meaning of it. Examples would be good too.
PS: I'm not a English native speaker
expressions american-english
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 2 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I was reading a book and couldn't understand the meaning of this:
After all, how many times had her father complained that she was full of more spit and vinegar than most boys?
I searched, but I could only find mixed opinions that it could be both offensive and non-offensive meanings.
The only trustful source I found was on Oxford dictionary as "agressive energy". Can anyone explain it better? I want to grasp the full meaning of it. Examples would be good too.
PS: I'm not a English native speaker
expressions american-english
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 2 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
2
The typical, or more common, idiom, is full of piss and vinegar (that is, piss rather than spit). I imagine the spit variant arose during a more conservative time. In contemporary America, at least, neither form would be likely to cause offense, at all. Though using it would mark you as a bit old-fashioned (because on the whole, the idiom's usage has all but faded). It does mean "full of energy" or "rowdy". Here's one explaination at the Phrase Finder.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:28
BTW, if you're learning English as a foreign language, you might also enjoy our sister site, English Language Learners.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:29
So the upshot of Dan Bron's excellent answer is that "piss and vinegar" means just what you said: "aggressive energy." And in the example you cite, it means it in a positive way, as it is usually used today. It's hard to explain idioms because they are expressions that come about organically, as the explanation Dan's citation tried to decipher.
– terpy
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
It's an old idiom (with the two indicated forms) which suggests that the person has a spirited personality and is not apt to be passive and silent when an affront is sensed. Probably more often used of women/girls than men/boys, as it suggests that the person is not always "ladylike".
– Hot Licks
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I was reading a book and couldn't understand the meaning of this:
After all, how many times had her father complained that she was full of more spit and vinegar than most boys?
I searched, but I could only find mixed opinions that it could be both offensive and non-offensive meanings.
The only trustful source I found was on Oxford dictionary as "agressive energy". Can anyone explain it better? I want to grasp the full meaning of it. Examples would be good too.
PS: I'm not a English native speaker
expressions american-english
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
I was reading a book and couldn't understand the meaning of this:
After all, how many times had her father complained that she was full of more spit and vinegar than most boys?
I searched, but I could only find mixed opinions that it could be both offensive and non-offensive meanings.
The only trustful source I found was on Oxford dictionary as "agressive energy". Can anyone explain it better? I want to grasp the full meaning of it. Examples would be good too.
PS: I'm not a English native speaker
expressions american-english
expressions american-english
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
asked Jun 7 '16 at 17:23
Tainá Araujo
1614
1614
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 2 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 2 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
2
The typical, or more common, idiom, is full of piss and vinegar (that is, piss rather than spit). I imagine the spit variant arose during a more conservative time. In contemporary America, at least, neither form would be likely to cause offense, at all. Though using it would mark you as a bit old-fashioned (because on the whole, the idiom's usage has all but faded). It does mean "full of energy" or "rowdy". Here's one explaination at the Phrase Finder.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:28
BTW, if you're learning English as a foreign language, you might also enjoy our sister site, English Language Learners.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:29
So the upshot of Dan Bron's excellent answer is that "piss and vinegar" means just what you said: "aggressive energy." And in the example you cite, it means it in a positive way, as it is usually used today. It's hard to explain idioms because they are expressions that come about organically, as the explanation Dan's citation tried to decipher.
– terpy
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
It's an old idiom (with the two indicated forms) which suggests that the person has a spirited personality and is not apt to be passive and silent when an affront is sensed. Probably more often used of women/girls than men/boys, as it suggests that the person is not always "ladylike".
– Hot Licks
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
add a comment |
2
The typical, or more common, idiom, is full of piss and vinegar (that is, piss rather than spit). I imagine the spit variant arose during a more conservative time. In contemporary America, at least, neither form would be likely to cause offense, at all. Though using it would mark you as a bit old-fashioned (because on the whole, the idiom's usage has all but faded). It does mean "full of energy" or "rowdy". Here's one explaination at the Phrase Finder.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:28
BTW, if you're learning English as a foreign language, you might also enjoy our sister site, English Language Learners.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:29
So the upshot of Dan Bron's excellent answer is that "piss and vinegar" means just what you said: "aggressive energy." And in the example you cite, it means it in a positive way, as it is usually used today. It's hard to explain idioms because they are expressions that come about organically, as the explanation Dan's citation tried to decipher.
– terpy
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
It's an old idiom (with the two indicated forms) which suggests that the person has a spirited personality and is not apt to be passive and silent when an affront is sensed. Probably more often used of women/girls than men/boys, as it suggests that the person is not always "ladylike".
– Hot Licks
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
2
2
The typical, or more common, idiom, is full of piss and vinegar (that is, piss rather than spit). I imagine the spit variant arose during a more conservative time. In contemporary America, at least, neither form would be likely to cause offense, at all. Though using it would mark you as a bit old-fashioned (because on the whole, the idiom's usage has all but faded). It does mean "full of energy" or "rowdy". Here's one explaination at the Phrase Finder.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:28
The typical, or more common, idiom, is full of piss and vinegar (that is, piss rather than spit). I imagine the spit variant arose during a more conservative time. In contemporary America, at least, neither form would be likely to cause offense, at all. Though using it would mark you as a bit old-fashioned (because on the whole, the idiom's usage has all but faded). It does mean "full of energy" or "rowdy". Here's one explaination at the Phrase Finder.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:28
BTW, if you're learning English as a foreign language, you might also enjoy our sister site, English Language Learners.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:29
BTW, if you're learning English as a foreign language, you might also enjoy our sister site, English Language Learners.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:29
So the upshot of Dan Bron's excellent answer is that "piss and vinegar" means just what you said: "aggressive energy." And in the example you cite, it means it in a positive way, as it is usually used today. It's hard to explain idioms because they are expressions that come about organically, as the explanation Dan's citation tried to decipher.
– terpy
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
So the upshot of Dan Bron's excellent answer is that "piss and vinegar" means just what you said: "aggressive energy." And in the example you cite, it means it in a positive way, as it is usually used today. It's hard to explain idioms because they are expressions that come about organically, as the explanation Dan's citation tried to decipher.
– terpy
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
It's an old idiom (with the two indicated forms) which suggests that the person has a spirited personality and is not apt to be passive and silent when an affront is sensed. Probably more often used of women/girls than men/boys, as it suggests that the person is not always "ladylike".
– Hot Licks
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
It's an old idiom (with the two indicated forms) which suggests that the person has a spirited personality and is not apt to be passive and silent when an affront is sensed. Probably more often used of women/girls than men/boys, as it suggests that the person is not always "ladylike".
– Hot Licks
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
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up vote
0
down vote
It’s not generally considered an offensive remark. It’s just used to remark on enthusiastic energy and vitality. In the South, it is still used frequently. If it is intended to have a negative connotation, you would pick that up by the tone of voice, usually delivered in a sarcastic manner.
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
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up vote
0
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Apparently this phrase has several origins and forms
Vinegar has been in the language as the name of the familiar liquid since the 12th century. During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy and that's the meaning in 'piss and vinegar' and 'pep and vinegar'. At that time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance. It's most likely that the phrase originated around then, possibly as an adaptation of the existing 'vig and vigour', which means much the same.
Spit and vinegar seems like someone did not know that 'pep' could be substituted for 'piss'.
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
I am old enough to remember the phrase. I heard it in the south. It was used by our elders when we were young and "feeling our oats". That's another old term I don't hear anymore. It meant being still young and maybe spirited (aggressive energy" as in the above post.
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
1
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
It’s not generally considered an offensive remark. It’s just used to remark on enthusiastic energy and vitality. In the South, it is still used frequently. If it is intended to have a negative connotation, you would pick that up by the tone of voice, usually delivered in a sarcastic manner.
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
It’s not generally considered an offensive remark. It’s just used to remark on enthusiastic energy and vitality. In the South, it is still used frequently. If it is intended to have a negative connotation, you would pick that up by the tone of voice, usually delivered in a sarcastic manner.
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
It’s not generally considered an offensive remark. It’s just used to remark on enthusiastic energy and vitality. In the South, it is still used frequently. If it is intended to have a negative connotation, you would pick that up by the tone of voice, usually delivered in a sarcastic manner.
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
It’s not generally considered an offensive remark. It’s just used to remark on enthusiastic energy and vitality. In the South, it is still used frequently. If it is intended to have a negative connotation, you would pick that up by the tone of voice, usually delivered in a sarcastic manner.
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
answered Sep 7 at 13:32
Judy C
1
1
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Apparently this phrase has several origins and forms
Vinegar has been in the language as the name of the familiar liquid since the 12th century. During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy and that's the meaning in 'piss and vinegar' and 'pep and vinegar'. At that time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance. It's most likely that the phrase originated around then, possibly as an adaptation of the existing 'vig and vigour', which means much the same.
Spit and vinegar seems like someone did not know that 'pep' could be substituted for 'piss'.
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Apparently this phrase has several origins and forms
Vinegar has been in the language as the name of the familiar liquid since the 12th century. During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy and that's the meaning in 'piss and vinegar' and 'pep and vinegar'. At that time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance. It's most likely that the phrase originated around then, possibly as an adaptation of the existing 'vig and vigour', which means much the same.
Spit and vinegar seems like someone did not know that 'pep' could be substituted for 'piss'.
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Apparently this phrase has several origins and forms
Vinegar has been in the language as the name of the familiar liquid since the 12th century. During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy and that's the meaning in 'piss and vinegar' and 'pep and vinegar'. At that time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance. It's most likely that the phrase originated around then, possibly as an adaptation of the existing 'vig and vigour', which means much the same.
Spit and vinegar seems like someone did not know that 'pep' could be substituted for 'piss'.
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
Apparently this phrase has several origins and forms
Vinegar has been in the language as the name of the familiar liquid since the 12th century. During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy and that's the meaning in 'piss and vinegar' and 'pep and vinegar'. At that time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance. It's most likely that the phrase originated around then, possibly as an adaptation of the existing 'vig and vigour', which means much the same.
Spit and vinegar seems like someone did not know that 'pep' could be substituted for 'piss'.
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
answered Oct 31 at 15:22
Norman Edward
3527
3527
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
I am old enough to remember the phrase. I heard it in the south. It was used by our elders when we were young and "feeling our oats". That's another old term I don't hear anymore. It meant being still young and maybe spirited (aggressive energy" as in the above post.
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
1
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
I am old enough to remember the phrase. I heard it in the south. It was used by our elders when we were young and "feeling our oats". That's another old term I don't hear anymore. It meant being still young and maybe spirited (aggressive energy" as in the above post.
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
1
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
I am old enough to remember the phrase. I heard it in the south. It was used by our elders when we were young and "feeling our oats". That's another old term I don't hear anymore. It meant being still young and maybe spirited (aggressive energy" as in the above post.
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
I am old enough to remember the phrase. I heard it in the south. It was used by our elders when we were young and "feeling our oats". That's another old term I don't hear anymore. It meant being still young and maybe spirited (aggressive energy" as in the above post.
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
answered Mar 4 at 0:32
Jim
11
11
1
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
add a comment |
1
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
1
1
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
-1 You don’t actually answer the question posed.
– Jim
Mar 4 at 0:50
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/firsthand First hand experience is worth something. It's not the same as hearsay or opinion.
– Bread
Mar 4 at 2:11
add a comment |
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2
The typical, or more common, idiom, is full of piss and vinegar (that is, piss rather than spit). I imagine the spit variant arose during a more conservative time. In contemporary America, at least, neither form would be likely to cause offense, at all. Though using it would mark you as a bit old-fashioned (because on the whole, the idiom's usage has all but faded). It does mean "full of energy" or "rowdy". Here's one explaination at the Phrase Finder.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:28
BTW, if you're learning English as a foreign language, you might also enjoy our sister site, English Language Learners.
– Dan Bron
Jun 7 '16 at 17:29
So the upshot of Dan Bron's excellent answer is that "piss and vinegar" means just what you said: "aggressive energy." And in the example you cite, it means it in a positive way, as it is usually used today. It's hard to explain idioms because they are expressions that come about organically, as the explanation Dan's citation tried to decipher.
– terpy
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22
It's an old idiom (with the two indicated forms) which suggests that the person has a spirited personality and is not apt to be passive and silent when an affront is sensed. Probably more often used of women/girls than men/boys, as it suggests that the person is not always "ladylike".
– Hot Licks
Jun 7 '16 at 18:22