When its said, " I busted my ass at work"....are they referring to anatomy or donkey?

3

3 Answers

Didge Doo Profile
Didge Doo answered

Depends whether you're speaking English or American.

A damsel from Boston Mass
Had an adorable ass;
Not rounded and pink
As you probably think:
It was grey, had long ears, and ate grass.

But your question reminded me of an old Abbott and Costello movie (1940s, if I remember correctly) about Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Ali arrives at a rock face and cries, "Open Sesame!" and a door begins to open where none had been before. Then the camera switches inside the cave where an scungy-looking old Arab is beating his donkey with a stick as it turns a windlass to open the door. And, as he beats it, he keeps up a constant stream of invective, "Come on Sesame, pull damn you." And Sesame, the donkey, opens the door.

Behind many a mystery lies a simple explanation.

Walt O'Reagun Profile
Walt O'Reagun answered

A mule skinner was a person who whipped the mules to haul a load.  If he whipped them too much or didn't care for them, the mules would die.  Thus the term "whip your ass into shape" translated into human endeavors.  (also related to the term "beating a dead horse")


Answer Question

Anonymous