Busting what?

Recently The New York Times quoted a politician’s reference to “ordinary people busting their necks.” Instead of thinking about the presidential campaign, socio-economic class, and other important issues, I got stuck on one question: Why “necks”?

When I was a kid, “busting” (or “breaking”) your neck was a description of physical danger, as in “slow down or you’ll bust your neck.” However, the politician was talking about people who work hard, day in and day out. What “ordinary people” were busting, linguistically, were body parts considerably closer to the floor than their necks.

Not to be coy: The phrase the politician should have used was “busting their butts.” But — “butt” isn’t always accepted in polite company. Hence the proliferation of euphemisms, such as “seat,”  “rear,” and “bottom.” And “butt” isn’t the only body-part word to land in the improper column. In the 19th century, ladies ordered “seat fixing,” not “rump steak,” and ate “chests” or a “slice of bosom” instead of chicken breasts.

But we’re in the 21st century, not the 19th. I searched the Internet to see whether the expression had changed. I found some videos with disturbing titles like “busting pimples on your neck,” which I wisely decided not to watch. I also found  references to “break ya neck” in song lyrics. Those were about sex — I think — not jobs.

So the politician’s comment was inaccurate. There’s a shock! At least this time the mistake was in word choice, not facts. I admit I may be missing something because I spend a lot of time “busting my neck” at the computer, composing this blog and writing books. And I also admit that in a campaign season filled with outrageous statements, retaining a bit of shame is somehow comforting.

5 thoughts on “Busting what?

  1. Ellie Presner

    Love your “coy” words of wisdom! What came to my slightly improper mind, though, upon hearing the start of that phrase, “busting my…” was another “b” word. One that, when used to complete the phrase, could not be stated by a female person with any accuracy. Just sayin’. 😀

    By the way, to me the ultimate euphemism for cooked chicken parts is “white” meat vs. “dark” meat.

    Yeah, most sane people are a lot more “politically correct” than a certain orange someone, and we are decidedly unapologetic about it.

    Reply
    1. Geraldine Post author

      Hi, Ellie. I hadn’t thought of the other “B” word, but it’s in the music lyrics (without the “bust”) — the lyrics I refuse to quote. I guess I’m not orange enough!

      Reply
    2. William Cooper

      Ellie, I think of busting someone’s “another ‘b’ word” as giving him (or even her) a hard time. Also, are you implying that the “orange someone” is sane?

      Reply
  2. William Cooper

    Out of curiosity I looked up the article to see who the speaker was. It’s ironic that, in conceding that the democrats have not spoken enough to the “ordinary people breaking their necks,” he self-referentially proves his point by identifying them with a broken metaphor.

    Reply

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