Tighten Those Bolts!

Summary

Episode Summary: "Tighten Those Bolts!" – Armstrong & Getty On Demand

Introduction

In the December 9, 2024 episode titled "Tighten Those Bolts!" of the Armstrong & Getty On Demand podcast, hosts Armstrong and Getty delve into the intriguing world of idiomatic expressions, exploring their origins, meanings, and the debates surrounding their usage. This episode seamlessly blends humor with insightful discussions, making linguistic nuances both entertaining and educational for listeners.

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Exploring the Origins of Idioms

The primary focus of this episode is the investigation into the phrase "more than one way to skin a cat." Hosts Armstrong and Getty tackle the common curiosity about where such idioms originate and whether understanding their roots is essential for their contemporary usage.

• Initial Inquiry (03:01 - 04:03)

  The episode kicks off with Getty posing a playful critique to Toyota:

  "Dear Toyota, I need a word with you about your crown family. I started driving one and suddenly I love traffic. No, really, rush hour is my happy place." [03:01]

  This segues into a deeper discussion about the phrase "more than one way to skin a cat," sparking curiosity about its etymology.

• Possible Origins Discussed (04:03 - 05:38)

  Katie (Host 3) introduces listener-submitted theories, including:

  1. Catfish Skinning Hypothesis: Some listeners suggest the phrase might derive from the fur trade, where raccoons (often called cats) were skinned for their fur. Katie mentions:

     "Probably 1800s, you know, fur traders." [08:21]

  2. Ship Mechanics Theory: Another theory posits that ship's mechanics used the phrase to describe tightening screws and maintaining parts, involving processes like bluing and tattooing to mark maintenance. Katie elaborates:

     "Screwed blue. So it means completely taken care of, right?" [04:56]

  3. Sailors’ Syphilis Treatment: An alternative and more contentious explanation involves sailors using mercury pills (blue pills) to treat syphilis, leading to the phrase's origin. Getty expresses skepticism:

     "Okay, wow, that. I'm calling bullshit on that one, but it's charming anyway." [05:24]

• Debating the Importance of Origins (05:38 - 06:57)

  The hosts debate whether the true origin of such phrases impacts their current meaning. Getty asserts:

  > *"If it's been used for the last 50 years to communicate a certain thing, what difference does the origin make at that point?"* [06:16]
  

  Katie concurs, emphasizing that the established meaning often supersedes historical accuracy.

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Historical Context: Syphilis and Language

Delving deeper, the conversation touches upon the historical treatment of syphilis and its inadvertent influence on language.

• Syphilis Treatment Misconceptions (09:00 - 09:37)

  The hosts discuss how mercury was once believed to cure syphilis:

  > *"And there was an editor's note on one of these that said syphilis is actually incurable and mercury will not help. But it was believed at the time that it was."* [09:00]
  

  They clarify current medical understanding:

  > *"No. You can cure it with antibiotics unless it goes too far."* [09:11]
  

  Getty humorously remarks on the ease of self-treatment after multiple treatments:

  > *"I could have done it myself. I said, give me the needle kit."* [09:37]
  

---

Old West Prostitution and Sexual Health Practices

Shifting gears, the hosts explore the gritty realities of Old West prostitution and the use of condoms during that era.

• Historical Practices (10:27 - 11:41)

  The discussion highlights misconceptions about cleanliness and sexual health in the Old West:

  > *"I don't know, pre condom. I just. What was going on there?"* [10:27]
  

  They explore the evolution of condoms:

  > *"In the late 18th century, made out of sheep guts, condoms were soaked for a couple of hours and then made to have them be pliable afterwards."* [11:29]
  

  Katie adds a humorous note on the aesthetics of historical condoms:

  > *"Festive. Old timey condoms, a great stocking stuffer."* [11:34]
  

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Conclusion: The Relevance of Language Evolution

Wrapping up, Armstrong and Getty reflect on how language evolves and the significance (or lack thereof) of understanding idiomatic origins in everyday communication.

• Final Thoughts (08:35 - 09:53)

  Katie muses on the multifaceted origins of idioms:

  > *"It's just a fake, annoying way to show moral superiority."* [08:35]
  

  Getty draws parallels with other phrases, illustrating the complexity of language evolution:

  > *"We spent a lot of time on that. Some politician used the term, I think, balls to the walls..."* [07:35]
  

  The hosts agree that while the origins are fascinating, the current usage remains paramount:

  > *"It's that weird presentism thing, you know? It's just a fake, annoying way to show moral superiority."* [08:35]
  

---

Notable Quotes

• "If it's been used for the last 50 years to communicate a certain thing, what difference does the origin make at that point?" – Getty [06:16]
• "It's just a fake, annoying way to show moral superiority." – Katie [08:35]
• "Old timey condoms, a great stocking stuffer." – Katie [11:41]

---

Conclusion

"Tighten Those Bolts!" offers listeners a humorous yet thoughtful exploration of language, idioms, and their often murky origins. Armstrong and Getty adeptly balance scholarly inquiry with lighthearted banter, making this episode both informative and entertaining. Whether you're a language enthusiast or just enjoy witty conversations, this episode provides valuable insights into the phrases we use daily and their intriguing histories.

Transcript

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

I'm thirsty.

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

Beginning to feel more seasonal in here already.

[Host 1]

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[Host 3]

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[Host 2]

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[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

Dear Toyota, I need a word with you about your crown family. I started driving one and suddenly I love traffic. No, really, rush hour is my happy place.

[Host 1]

Intentional wrong turns feel so right.

[Host 2]

I could sit in the comfort of.

[Host 3]

My crown forever, basking in its elegance.

[Host 2]

Feeling on top of the world. But you see how this is strange for me, right?

[Host 3]

Who gets excited about traffic?

[Host 2]

This is on you, Toyota.

[Host 1]

And send the captivating Toyota Crown family Toyota. Let's go places.

[Host 3]

There's more than one way to skin the cat of etymology. It's one more thing.

[Host 2]

Armstrong and Getty. One more thing.

[Host 3]

So first, Joe used the descent disgusting phrase more than one way to skin a cat, which we got off on wondering where that comes from. And a whole bunch of people texted, it's catfish. It's a way to skin catfish. That may not be true. That may not be. I haven't looked it up. And even if I look it up and find it, that doesn't mean it's accurate because some other website will say something different.

[Host 2]

That's been my within a week anyway, right?

[Host 3]

That's been my history of these things. But Joe also used the phrase screwed and tattooed, which I was actually wondering about somewhat. And apparently the actual phrases. And I've heard this before. Screwed, ballooned and tattooed.

[Host 2]

Please tell me this is not horrifying because I used it, you know, on.

[Host 3]

The R. It can be any of at least three things where this came from. This. This. So blued.

[Host 2]

That's grammatically incorrect.

[Host 3]

Well, on this one, it's. It came from ship's mechanics. Tighten all parts and screws. Use bluing to stain the metal, which is something you do. Put an inspection mark through the blue paint with a tool and to tattoo the part to show that it has been taken care of. Screwed blue.

[Host 2]

So it means completely taken care of, right?

[Host 3]

Or ill. Or it could be this. Before shipping out from a foreign port call a sailor would see a local working girl that would be the screwed portion of the conversation. After that, he'd dress in his navy blue uniform to head back to the ship. Then he'd get another tattoo to remember where he'd been.

[Host 2]

Okay, wow, that. I'm calling bullshit on that one, but it's charming anyway.

[Host 3]

I don't know if I believe that one. And then also this one.

[Host 2]

I mean, charming, you know, including the hooker and everything, but at least I don't know.

[Host 3]

So apparently, back in the day. And again, this is yet another version of this. Back in the day in the Navy, you would take a mercury pill, which was a blue pill, to treat the syphilis you got while you were in, you know, in town, while your doctor, whatever. So you got screwed. You got syphilis. You got blued with the medicine to treat the syphilis. And then you'd show your ship's tattoo to avoid being pressed into service on another ship to get out of town.

[Host 2]

Huh. I feel like this almost feels like a game show, Katie, doesn't it?

[Host 3]

Yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna go with answer A. I think the first one sounds the most legit out of those three. I. I find it interesting that there are all kinds of words and phrases that we use because we know what. We know what you're trying to say with them, but, like, the origin will turn out to be very, very different or whatever, and it doesn't make any difference. It just doesn't make any difference. If it's being. It's been used for the last 50 years to. To communicate a certain thing. What difference does the origin make at that point? Does it make any difference?

[Host 2]

It's. It's interesting sometimes charming, but. No, it means what it means.

[Host 3]

Currently.

[Host 2]

Yeah, it's like the whole idiotic blm. And again, you have to remember, all of that crap was fake. It was designed to overthrow the powers that be in Western civilization. So the idea that you couldn't use the term picnic, it was just an effort to get you to obey them anyway, just to. They are calling the shots. They will tell you what you can say and what you can't say. The idea was to get you on your heels. Anyway, I came across another list of possibilities of what it might mean.

[Host 3]

Well, it's like a common one. God, we spent a lot of time on that. Some politician used the term, I think, balls to the walls. And then people were horrified about it. And then everybody got into the etymology of that. And then some of them, it was, you know, sexual, and some of them, it was mechanical mares, all kinds of different. Had to do with trains or planes or whatever. It wasn't sexual at all.

[Host 2]

Right. Or, yeah, I can't remember what it was, but it wasn't. It was completely not sexual. Yeah.

[Host 3]

You have any luck on skin in a cat there, Katie?

[Host 1]

No, not yet.

[Host 3]

We got a bunch of texts on that polecat, which is a raccoon is often referred to as a cat. And you did skin raccoons because the fur trade was a really big deal.

[Host 2]

Yeah, that certainly could be it.

[Host 3]

Yeah, that's probably where it came from. Probably 1800s, you know, fur traders.

[Host 2]

But again, to your point, using that expression doesn't mean you're soft on raccoon skinning or fur in general.

[Host 3]

Or know anything about the multiple ways to get the hide off a raccoon.

[Host 2]

Right, exactly. It's irrelevant to say, you know, that's actually an expression that means, you know, that's interesting, but just quit with. It's that weird presentism thing, you know? Yeah, it's another form of that. It's just a fake, annoying way to show moral superiority.

[Host 3]

So there was an editor's note on one of these that said syphilis is actually incurable and mercury will not help. But it was believed at the time that it was.

[Host 2]

Well, certainly.

[Host 3]

Is syphilis still incurable?

[Host 2]

No. You can cure it with antibiotics unless it goes too far.

[Host 3]

Why does Joe know so much, Katie? Why does Joe know so much about syphilis cure? I'm kind of curious myself there, Joe. I don't actually know if syphilis is like a common current one or if it's an old timey one. Is it a common one?

[Host 2]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know.

[Host 3]

Yeah. I almost asked Joe for all your ST patients.

[Host 2]

I'm telling you, I tell you what, by the third time I got the treatment, I could have done it myself. I said, give me the needle kit.

[Host 3]

You had your own microscope and you'd put a little sample under there. What? Look. Looks like syphilis again.

[Host 2]

Diy. Oh, my goodness. Hey, honey. Syphilis again. I used to work the venereal disease desk, the Armstrong and Getty show. I remember especially when we were just a local show in Northern California. The statistics would come out every year and, you know, upsurges in gonorrhea and syphilis or whatever in the state of California. Some department put out a report and I'd always bring it up, see how the state's doing. Hey, gonorrhea down, but syphilis up, folks. Wear that condom.

[Host 3]

Come on, Now I've never understood how old timey old west prostitution worked. It's just. I don't know, pre condom. I just. What was going on there?

[Host 2]

Well, they had condoms. Prius before the modern latex.

[Host 3]

Using them?

[Host 2]

I don't know, I wasn't there.

[Host 3]

I don't think they were. I don't actually know. But like when you watch those old timey westerns and everybody's kind of just joking about going upstairs with the local harlot, it's got to be disgusting. Nobody showered.

[Host 2]

Abortions. Abortions and vd.

[Host 3]

Well, and just being grossly dirty in addition to all that. It's just.

[Host 2]

Ah, well, they had water. You could take a bath. Oh, you've seen the Westerns where you get. You lay there in the.

[Host 3]

Yeah, like once a month after a cattle drive or something.

[Host 2]

But as long as it's before the sex.

[Host 3]

And how about how long. But how long since when she take her most recent bath?

[Host 2]

I don't know. Ask her. Besides, she'll be dead a syphilis soon. Don't worry about it.

[Host 3]

Here's a fun fact. In the late 18th century, made out of sheep guts, condoms were soaked for.

[Host 1]

A couple of hours and then made to have them be pliable afterwards. And then they would put a ribbon.

[Host 3]

At the end of it. Ah, festive.

[Host 2]

Nice touch. Especially for the holidays. Santa hat. Another possibility.

[Host 3]

Old timey condoms, a great stocking stuffer. Well, I guess that's it.

[Host 1]

All right, we're all set for the party. I've trimmed the tree, hung the mistletoe, and paired all those weird shaped knives and forks with the appropriate cheeses. And I plugged in the Partisan.

[Host 2]

Partisan.

[Host 1]

It's a home cocktail maker that makes over 60 premium cocktails. Plus a whole lot of seasonal favorites too. I just got it for 50 off, so how about a Cosmopolitan or a Mistletoe margarita?

[Host 3]

I'm thirsty.

[Host 1]

Watch. I just pop in a capsule, choose my strength and wow, it's beginning to.

[Host 2]

Feel more seasonal in here already.

[Host 1]

If your holiday party doesn't have a bartender, then you become the bartender. Unless you've got a Bartesian, because Bartesian crafts every cocktail perfectly in as little as 30 seconds. And I just got it for $50 off.

[Host 3]

Tis the season to be jollier.

[Host 2]

Add some holiday flavor to every celebration with the sleek, sophisticated home cocktail maker. Bartesian. Pick up your phone and shake it to get $50 off any cocktail maker. Yes, you heard me. Shake your phone and get $50 off. Don't delay.

[Host 1]

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[Host 2]

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