Eight little words that could mean so much. How would you go on to decipher them? “Take a long walk off a short pier” is something my grandfather used to say all the time. I decided to use this phrase due to the short amount of time I got to spend with him.
My grandfather was born in 1940 also known as “the silent generation”. A time when America was in an ongoing war and suffering from the economic depression. In those times is when I believe most of these “vulgar” sounding phrases were used popularly. My grandfather served in the navy for some time and some similar phrases would just become acquainted with him. This is how it was for most people during the 1940s-1960s. That is why most of the phrases and terms used were more hostile. With this said just because they sound hostile does not mean at all that they are.
So, what does the phrase mean? Did my grandfather really want my mother to jump off a pier and drown? Obviously not. The phrase is a tongue-in-cheek way of telling someone to “scram” or “get lost”. Most of the time these would be used if you were annoying someone or if someone just had enough of you. Since then, the phrase has continued to be passed down from my grandfather to my mother and to me. Some similar phrases to compare are “get lost’ or “jump in a lake”. Although they are harmless phrases most people these days will take them to be extremely hostile and unnecessary.
Nowadays most people who hear these idioms will absolutely think they are unrefined. With times changing rapidly since the 1940s and as people pass, generations are lost. Most of these phrases will die out. With the new generations and (in my opinion) more “sensitive” people you really must watch what you say, post, or do. Phrases like these are probably best to not be used on kids these days because you never know what could happen. Therefore, saying it to your kids if they get that it’s just a joke could still be bad because other people who hear that could take it out of hand.
In conclusion, the reason I decided to use this phrase is because growing up with my grandfather and mother I would be used to constantly hearing it and most of the time it would be directed at me. I cannot even tell you when the last time I heard someone say it was. I wonder what would happen if we took a poll to see how many people are familiar with the phrase.
3 Replies to “Take A Long Walk Off A Short Pier — John”
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This is very different and I have never heard the phrase Take a long walk of a short pier before. I also didn’t know that the 1940 is known as “the silent generation”. Your whole essay thought me a lot and I think it’s really cool that these phrases are being passed down in your family.
Although I do think intent is important behind what someone says I don’t think its a bad or “sensitive” thing to react in a taken aback way if someone said something on the offensive side. People should be encouraged to say what they want, but freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequence!! I do think that we as people should think more carefully as what is deemed hostile language though
Phrases are very interesting, because with language context and the way you say things mean everything. For example, the way you described the phrase that your grandfather used, an outsider would assume that he wanted whoever he was referring to to jump of a pier and drown, but knowing the context would tell you that it’s just a way of saying somebody is annoying you like you said. That’s common in almost every language or slang. We all have phrases that seem drastic but really are more silly then others know. This was a Good essay!