In a Pickle

Have I mentioned my ADD?  Well here is a perfect example!

While thinking about my post today (I usually write it out in my head or at least get it started in my head), I thought about the phrase "in a pickle."  I've grown up hearing that phrase and I know what it mean and how to use it when speaking or writing!  But I've never thought about the exact phrase before (and here goes the ADD).  Instead of writing my post and then looking up the phrase, I spent most of my morning routine searching "engines" and reading and copying and thinking about pickles.

The meaning of "I've gotten myself into a pickle" means getting oneself into an awkward or difficult situation.  It refers to a person being disoriented and/or mixed up.  I have definitely gotten myself into a pickle more times than not....actually most of the time!  Like this morning.  I've spent so much time looking up the origins of a phrase that I've left barely any time for getting ready for work much less continuing with this post.  Ah, my life.

First of all, one definition said "pickles were spicy sauces made to accompany meat dishes."  One site included the words "stewed vegetables."  Strawberry's translation is yummmm.  I think Del Monte makes a wonderful stewed tomato medley just perfect for opening the can and dumping in a crockpot with meat.

Another site states that the Dutch version of this saying is "in de pekel zitten" (English please: to sit in the pickle"); pekel being the liquid, brine or vinegar where the food was preserved.  Yep, THAT would be an uncomfortable situation, fer sure.  Your poor hiney.

I guess I was thinking literally.  I mean how did this phrase come to mean what it means?  After all, there you have a nice sweet cucumber and you add a lot of vinegar to cure it and it comes out a zangy tasting pickle that makes you pucker your mouth.  I'd think the meaning of "in a pickle" would mean "You are a Sour Person!"  Wouldn't you?  I'm just glad I'm not in charge of dispensing the meanings of phrases.  Why, we'd all be in a pickle!

So I've run out of time, Grainiacs.  That's your history lesson according to Pickles, I mean, Strawberry for today.

Join me tomorrow where I'm hoping to stay on track.  Nah, who am I kidding!