When major league baseball began in 1875, no one in their wildest dreams would ever imagine a dispute at home plate, involving a manager, a player, and the umpire, being referred to as a RHUBARB, but that’s what they called it. Even the team warm-ups, before the game are called PEPPER games, where the players throw the ball around and simulate different game situations. Leaving the ballpark venue, we segue to Alcatraz state prison, where a condemned inmate is about to receive the deadly needle. He is calm, and seems to be at peace with himself. He could be described as being cool as a CUCUMBER. The inmate’s attorney, on the other hand, when informed of the rejection of his client’s final appeal, was so angry he turned red as a BEET.
That brand-new X KE MNOP convertible with the chrome plated flux capacitor, which you just purchased with your son’s college fund, has stopped moving with you behind the wheel, while in the middle lane of a five lane superhighway during prime drive time. In addition to referring to that vehicle as a #@%*^, you would later relate to your friends that you had purchased a LEMON. The term LEMON would be used to describe anything, (appliance, boyfriend, world peace agreement, etc.) that did not perform as advertised. This would include that “Once-in-a-lifetime quarterback”, for whom they traded three number one draft choices to obtain. The LEMON label would be applied at the time he was arrested for drug dealing, and consequently banned from football for life.
A great comic is referred to as a top BANANA. A nice person might be called a real PEACH of a guy (or gal); someone feeling on top of the world might say, I’m feeling PEACHY dandy! Any two people who are of a similar demeanor might be described as two PEAS in a pod. Young, aggressive, professional men (doctors, lawyers, architects) who enjoy wearing white shorts, can often be found playing SQUASH. A stale joke is considered CORNY, and a country hayseed might be referred to as a CORNBALL. The young hustling broker on Wall Street; a man on the go 24 seven; is usually chasing the CARROT on a stick which dangles before him, always just a little out of reach.
The boss just told us about an upcoming merger involving a lot of small companies that could MUSHROOM into a huge profitable conglomerate. These companies would no longer be referred to as small POTATOES. A lot of married guys have a HONEYDEW list that describes a huge slate of chores to be done on the weekend. Once upon a time, a very attractive woman would be described as a hot TOMATO.
His daughter was the APPLE of his eye. A student who brought an APPLE for his teacher would see it occupy prime space on her desk. New York is the Big Apple. As American as APPLE pie is a phrase that describes our countries way of life. An APPLE a day keeps the doctor away. A rotten APPLE spoils the barrel. It will upset your APPLECART if you have to change your plans.
A condiment conundrum: a salesman who couldn’t CATCHUP his sales quota was considered too old to cut the MUSTARD; however he RELISHED the idea of killing his boss, even though it would put him in a PICKLE.
Class dismissed! Eat your PEAS!
Newsflash!! CELERY arrested; accused of stalking!