A Pinch and a Punch for the First of the Month / myLot

New Zealand

September 30, 2015 1:47pm CST

Did you say that on the first day of the month when you were a kid? The saying was if you got in and said it to someone first, they couldn't pinch you back. And, at school, we were only allowed to say it until lunchtime, we got into trouble if we used it after that. I have no idea of the origin of the saying, but it was supposed to bring good luck if you said a pinch and a punch for the first of the month on the first day of every new month, given with the appropriate actions of course. Most kids did it lightly, but some of the boys especially enjoyed being allowed to be a bit more physical. So, here I am, having my first coffee for October and wishing you luck for the month ahead. I hope it's a food one for you. Was this expression one you used as a child?

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14 responses

Rachel Young

@rachelyoung13 (64)

• United Kingdom

30 Sep 15

We used to chase each other round the playground trying to be the first one to say it... In hindsight it was just an extreme game of tag for us. Did you have the variations of "A kick and a flick for being so quick" and "a poke in the eye for being so sly" in retaliation to it or was that just my school?

2 people like this

Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

30 Sep 15

Yes, I do vaguely remember other sayings like that too. At my school the boys lay in waiting so they could pinch the girls.

Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

1 Oct 15

@rachelyoung13 I seem to remember even friends couldn't be counted on, but it was mostly fun.

Rachel Young

@rachelyoung13 (64)

• United Kingdom

30 Sep 15

@valmnz same at mine, there was always a slight worry going into school on the first as I didn't want to get caught

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Anna

@LadyDuck (461741)

• Switzerland

1 Oct 15

No, we have nothing similar, I cannot remember anything both in Italy and France and not even here in Switzerland.

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

1 Oct 15

Did kids acknowledge the first of the month in any way?

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Anna

@LadyDuck (461741)

• Switzerland

2 Oct 15

@valmnz No, nothing special about the first of the month, a day like another.

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AnjaP

@Rollo1 (16679)

• Boston, Massachusetts

1 Oct 15

No, I never heard that before, but The Man knows it. We must not have the saying in the US. I vaguely remember something we were supposed to hit each other over, but I can't remember what it was.

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

1 Oct 15

Just imagine that happening today. Some kids scream murder even when they're looked at!

Always smiling

@allknowing (130518)

• India

2 Oct 15

I only remember April Fools day which was vigorously followed here, there and everywhere. I am hearing about what you have said here for the first time - looks like a New Zealander's creation.

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

2 Oct 15

No, definitely an old English one, brought here by the settlers.

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Always smiling

@allknowing (130518)

• India

2 Oct 15

@valmnz

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

30 Sep 15

i don't reckon i've e'er heard 'f such 'fore? i bet'cha they don't allow such in school these days though - somebody might yell foul play 'n slap a lawsuit. pitiful to think that way, aint it? wishin' ya the same 'n great health!

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

30 Sep 15

You still hear it discreetly in playgrounds and classrooms here, just with the little kids.

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M.-L.

@MALUSE (69388)

• Germany

30 Sep 15

Nothing, not even in German. I know loads of sayings but none for the beginning or end of a month.

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

30 Sep 15

I presume it's an old English custom. I must look up its origins.

Glen

@glenniah (1197)

• Mandurah, Australia

1 Oct 15

Yes Val, we always used it. Perhaps we should all try and find the expressions we used or our parents used, it could be interesting.

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

1 Oct 15

I do seem to be going back down memory lane a bit at the moment!

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Hate2Iron

@Hate2Iron (15729)

• Canada

1 Oct 15

I have never heard of it before but I'm going to try it on my daughter. I can almost imagine the look of her face lol... Now Val did mention it below that it was an old english saying, so my husband just might have heard of it!!

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Mohd. Irfan Alam

@gregario888 (1276)

• Aurangabad, India

1 Oct 15

That's a lovely one, Val!

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

1 Oct 15

I still haven't made time to look up how it started.

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50525)

• Centralia, Missouri

30 Sep 15

Never heard anyone say that, or heard of it before, must be a cultural thing. OH and it just occured to me, it's still September here for a few more hours!

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Val

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

30 Sep 15

It's definitely an old English playground saying.

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