A wigwam for a goose's bridle

Mandarin duck, Adelaide, South Australia
@JudyEv (325815)
Rockingham, Australia
October 13, 2018 7:01am CST
Parents sometimes use all sorts of subterfuge to avoid giving a direct answer to their children. Maybe because it would mean going into a lengthy explanation, maybe it’s not something they want to child to know or maybe the child has been asking questions all day and they are tired of answering. My parents had several sayings that were meant to stop us continuing to pester them. If I asked where Dad was going, Mum would often say ‘to see a man about a dog’. Probably if I’d been told the truth I’d have wanted to go with him. I was a bit puzzled when Dad would return and know nothing about any dog. The other saying was if Mum happened to be making something and I asked what it was. The answer was always ‘a wigwam for a goose’s bridle’ which of course makes no sense at all. Did your parents have saying designed to shut you up? I don’t have a photo of a goose or a wigwam but this is a colourful Mandarin duck that we saw in Adelaide, South Australia.
16 people like this
15 responses
• China
13 Oct 18
I search ‘a wigwam for a goose’s bridle’ online. Over here, the Mandarin duck symbolizes an affectionate couple.
Search A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z   0   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 Definithing > wigwam for a goose's bridle an old australian slang term for “how the f-ck should i know” or
3 people like this
• China
14 Oct 18
@JudyEv You are welcome ! I am in the habit of searching online what I don't know.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
Thanks for the link. I didn't think to go searching for it. Nice to know about the symbolism of the duck too.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Oct 18
My mother just told me to stop bothering her. That is one colorful bird!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct 18
Try describing that in one paragraph.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Oct 18
@JudyEv - No kidding.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
13 Oct 18
My father always took his wife out to the doctors (lol)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
That's different.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
14 Oct 18
1 person likes this
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Oct 18
I've heard the first expression many times. The second one, I've never heard before.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Oct 18
@JudyEv No, it doesn't, but that's also the beauty of it. It makes people stop and think.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Oct 18
It's a strange one isn't it? Makes no sense at all.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
19 Oct 18
I wish I could remember some of the responses my parents used!
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
2 Nov 18
@JudyEv I believe your right, I used to tell my kids if they mouthed me one more time I was going to rip their lips off and stick them to the wall. Not nice I know but when you have had enough you have had enough ya know.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Nov 18
@cintol I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes they can really try your patience.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Nov 18
I'm sure parents come up with all sorts of things to shut children up.
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
13 Oct 18
No sayings just the stern look if we were out in company and also some Gaelic words which no one else understood of course.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
A stern look was all it took when we were kids, wasn't it?
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
13 Oct 18
@JudyEv Indeed Judy so far different from today I say.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
13 Oct 18
Funny answers to your simple questions, I cannot remember weird replies from my parents.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
Maybe you didn't keep on at them with lots of questions.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
13 Oct 18
@JudyEv I am sure I did, but my grandmother lived with us, may be I was sent to her to ask my questions and she was a very patient woman.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
13 Oct 18
Never had the chance with mine.Not as fortunate as many here.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
13 Oct 18
@JudyEv yes it is.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
That's a shame.
@wolfgirl569 (95225)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Oct 18
None that I remember.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
Maybe you didn't ask lots of unwanted questions.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40529)
• United States
13 Oct 18
What a beautiful duck! My parents would say, "Because I said so."
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
Yes, I got that from time to time too.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
13 Oct 18
I've never heard a parent give such answers or similar ones to a child.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
Maybe my parents were unique! I know to see a man about a dog was commonly used in our circles and the other wasn't unknown either.
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Nov 18
Wow, that is some duck. I think that my mother just told me to "shut up."
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Nov 18
Short, direct and to the point.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (15863)
• United States
13 Oct 18
My parents weren't that creative, they told us to hush up. Love the picture and thanks for sharing some creative sayings from your parents.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
The duck is very pretty isn't he? The photo is a bit blurry but them's the breaks.
1 person likes this
@SophieY (891)
• South Africa
21 Oct 18
beautiful colours
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Nov 18
He is very pretty isn't he?
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Oct 18
That is the most colorful duck I have ever seen.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325815)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
I think the Creator tried out every colour he had on his palette.
2 people like this