Rule of thumb

I always thought this term was related with longbows and the distance between the bow and the string. However, I was on a training day for domestic abuse and this term relates to an old law.Apparently it was considered acceptable to beat your spouse within an inch of her life, as long as the stick was no thicker than your thumb. Unbelievable!

My wife is going to be happy as i was using one as big as my wrist.

My Wife took my stick off me !
I better not say where it is now !

Guys, I don't want to spoil what was meant as light-hearted banter, but perhaps watch where you're going with this one: it could very easily be seen as /descend into being offensive.

fiona wrote:Guys, I don't want to spoil what was meant as light-hearted banter, but perhaps watch where you're going with this one: it could very easily be seen as /descend into being offensive.

I quite agree Fiona, It just shocked me that such an innocuous term has such a horrific beginning. Has anyone else got any sayings with maybe a more light hearted meaning?

How about 'The whole nine yards' ?

I heard it being discussed on Radio 2 a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately I missed the outcome of the discussion.

Chris Evans & Co (radio 2) were undecided between these 2 options:

The length of the material in a full highland dress kilt

or

The length of the bullet belt of a Spitfire


Anyone know the answer?

According to Wikipedia, no one knows the answer, definitively.

"3 sheets to the wind"

will baddeley wrote:I always thought this term was related with longbows and the distance between the bow and the string. However, I was on a training day for domestic abuse and this term relates to an old law.Apparently it was considered acceptable to beat your spouse within an inch of her life, as long as the stick was no thicker than your thumb. Unbelievable!

Reminds me of the pre-fight scene in "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. While Wayne was hauling O'Hara back to her brothers farm, a lady in the crowd offered him a sturdy stick "to beat the lovely lady with".

Yeah right, I beat my wife with any stick and I get to sleep with one eye open for the rest of my life, which, I would guess, wouldn't be all that long!

Jay