Having a cow - a new phrase for me
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325321)
Rockingham, Australia
November 5, 2021 2:13am CST
Someone on myLot (sorry, can’t remember who) mentioned how much she enjoy Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. I found one in our library and read it recently. I had been warned about the language but it wasn’t too bad.
But what I found interesting was every now and then ‘having a cow’ would be mentioned. I first came across this term through @DaddyEvil. I had never heard it before. Here, we might say ‘having kittens’ but never ‘having a cow’. So now I know a bit more about American slang.
The photo is of a dairy herd crossing a road near where we used to live.
23 people like this
22 responses
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
5 Nov 21
Oh, yes, I've been talking about Janet Evanovich with @RubyHawk lately on myLot. I love the series!
Janet Evanovich also has other books/series in publication you might like, too.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
5 Nov 21
@JudyEv I've got everything she's written, so far. She's an excellent author.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325321)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Nov 21
@DaddyEvil Oh wow, surely that's quite a few!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
5 Nov 21
You've never watched The Simpsons? Bart used to say that all the time.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
5 Nov 21
it is an old idiom for sure (hope you are feeling better)!
3 people like this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
5 Nov 21
@JudyEv glad you are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel!
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
8 Nov 21
That is a fairly old expression. It has been frequently used in The Simpsons. Bart Simpson frequently has used the phrase, "Don't have a cow, man."
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
15 Nov 21
@JudyEv I used to be a huge fan of it. However, I grew tired of it since the characters are fairly static. Even within animation, I prefer that characters grow and change over time. I don't dislike it now, but I have become sort of bored of it. I will still watch an episode every now and again, though.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325321)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Nov 21
@wilsongoddard I know it's been very popular in its time.
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6087)
• United Kingdom
6 Nov 21
As most people here have said, I have only heard Bart Simpson say it.
Having kittens is an old English expression and I have had lots in my time but fortunately not had to feed any. 
1 person likes this
@Orson_Kart (6087)
• United Kingdom
10 Nov 21
@JudyEv I think it’s all a load of bull myself. 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155469)
• United States
5 Nov 21
Great picture. I had a cow during our last two trips when we ran into heavy traffic and couldn't find our way around! :-)
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
6 Nov 21
Wow that's a lot of cows. lol. Bart Simpson says "Don't have a cow, man" a lot. I think it was used more in the 80s/90s. Never heard of having kittens. Is that the same general meaning?
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
11 Nov 21
@JudyEv I love it. Now I have a new expression
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26780)
• United States
6 Nov 21
Vocabulary, slang can differ per State too. Here in Hawaii, how come, is used a lot instead of why... so when we get a blank response & face, how come uses, why is added.1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16517)
• China
9 Nov 21
My dictionary has this phrase by which it means being very angry or surprised about something.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61937)
• United States
5 Nov 21
There’s a million different ways to reference someone having their panties in a wad, isn’t there. 
One of those “countries separated by a common language” idioms I laugh at is the British expression of coming round to “knock you up,” or knock on your door, or see you. In America, “knock you up” means get (or be [“knocked”]) pregnant!
One of those “countries separated by a common language” idioms I laugh at is the British expression of coming round to “knock you up,” or knock on your door, or see you. In America, “knock you up” means get (or be [“knocked”]) pregnant! 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325321)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Nov 21
It's not used here at all but we do say 'she's having kittens' - about organising a wedding for instance.
@wolfgirl569 (94747)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Nov 21
I have heard it a lot. Until you I had never heard of having kittens.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29233)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Nov 21
There are so many cows being had in the US these days, that you can almost hear the cries of anguish and rage at times.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325321)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Nov 21
Yes, they just about reach our shores from time to time but now it's the poor old French having cows as we've cancelled our submarine order. They are having cows left, right and centre - and rightly so.
@JudyEv (325321)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Nov 21
Most of the slang makes very little sense but it's all interesting.
