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Children are masters of this technique: "You need to get dressed
for your baseball game -- and don't forget your athletic cup!"
"Cup, schmup! How are they going to know if I'm wearing one
anyway!"
I didn't say they were logical, merely masters of making words
irrelevant.
Who started this practice of making words irrelevant?
I'm not exactly sure. I suspect it may have been a Jewish
celebrity, though. It had to be someone who was famous and
influential or it never would have caught on. And Jewish people are
geniuses at inventing words that start with "schm-."
A Catholic would have used something Latin. Perhaps "cup, et tu-up!"
("Et tu" is the only Latin phrase I know.)
A Baptist would have come up with something over the top, like
"cup, hallelujah-up." We are fortunate, indeed, that it wasn't a
famous Baptist who started the disappearing-word trend. It could
become difficult with longer words, like "catastrophe, hallelujah-astrophe!"
This word suggests that it might have been many a visionary's
last words, because, of course, "schm-" is almost always preceded by
words of warning from a sane person.
Just because you make a word disappear does not mean that the
imminent threat has disappeared as well. Threat, schmeat!
If "schm-" simply replaces the first letter or two of a word,
then what exactly is meant when a person is called a schmuck? One
wonders what "schm-" is replacing here.
Ah, I know! It probably replaces the letter "L" for luck.
... What did you think?
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The origin of the word "schmooze" is unclear as well. We know it
is slang and that you do it at cocktail parties. Someone probably
said, "Honey, aren't you drinking a little too much booze?"
"Booze, schmooze!"
By this we can conclude that "schmoozing" means talking to people
while drunk.
Schmaltz is another "schm-" word that could have also originated
with a party -- a formal ball, perhaps.
"Honey, you are supposed to be doing a waltz, not the Electric
Slide."
"Waltz, schmaltz!"
I think we can safely assume that there was alcohol involved in
this instance as well.
"Have you ever schmeered anyone in a game of skill?"
"Honey, beer is not allowed on the pitcher's mound!"
"Beer, schmeer!"
I think we are seeing a pattern here...
Maybe it wasn't a Jewish celebrity, after all. Maybe it was a
celebrity who did a lot of drinking at parties.
[By LAURA SNYDER]
Laura Snyder is a nationally syndicated columnist,
author and speaker. You can reach her at
lsnyder@lauraonlife.com
or visit www.lauraonlife.com
for more info. |
