Have you heard the term "bun in the oven"? What are some of your favorite "figures of speech"?

@TheHorse (231047)
Walnut Creek, California
May 7, 2023 2:04pm CST
My thanks to a fellow MyLotter for inspiring me to write this post. My pretend daughter is 24 now, and lives in Colorado. She is sexually active (but not over-active, so for as I know) but has no children. My MyLot friend mentioned getting married as a precursor to having children. As an American, I laughed. Among the demographic in which I grew up, more than half of all children are born "out of wedlock." Then the term "bun in the oven" came to mind. It's an American (I think) colloquialism meaning that the baby was on the way when the (sometimes shotgun, another colloquialism) wedding occurred. Do you have favorite "figures of speech," or "colloquialisms"? John Prine has written entire songs based on American figures of speech. I love @Maluse's "tickles my tummy" for "makes me happy/giddy." Had you heard "bun in the oven"?
13 people like this
16 responses
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (114687)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
7 May 23
I like the term "If you cannot stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 23
I have heard that one.
3 people like this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (114687)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 May 23
@TheHorse I believe that came from former President Harry S. Truman.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
@Deepizzaguy Did he just...think it up?
2 people like this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (79729)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 May 23
It's a way to say pregnant. So I've heard of it. I know shotgun, too. A Those pop out as most common.
4 people like this
Kayla Tsukino
@kaylachan (79729)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 May 23
@TheHorse Yeah. Now a days I bet people think 'shotgun' as well the real thing.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
@kaylachan Please elaborate. I am lost. "think 'shotgun' as well the real thing."
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 23
"Shotgun wedding" can mean daddy demanded it. I also use "shotgun" to mean "in the passenger seat."
3 people like this
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (38497)
• Toccoa, Georgia
7 May 23
Yes I have heard of "bun in the oven". One figure of speech that I have heard is "tickle me pink". It means very happy or amused.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 23
Oh, I've heard that one.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (484297)
• Italy
8 May 23
I never heard this one, hard to know colloquialisms in a language different from your native language.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (484297)
• Italy
8 May 23
@TheHorse Nothing comes to my mind for women who get married because they are pregnant.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
Sometimes there are similar ones--sometimes not. Do you have a term for someone who gets married because they're pregnant?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (363743)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 May 23
Yes, I've heard of bun in the oven and shotgun weddings. Such phrases must be hard for non-English speakers to come to grips with.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
I bet they have their own. Where is Maluse when we need her? She has shared some enjoyable German phrases with us.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
@JudyEv I miss her.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (363743)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 May 23
@TheHorse She has indeed. I think maybe she has deleted her account?
2 people like this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99393)
• Atlanta, Georgia
8 May 23
I certainly have. I hear it for any pregnant woman married or not. I love all those old sayings and often use them myself. Drunk as a skunk, Flat as a flitter. Between a rock and a hard place, Nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers. Meaner than a snake and on and on.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
I like this one and had not heard it before! "Nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers"
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 May 23
@RubyHawk I've never heard that one! Were you in the Military too?
2 people like this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99393)
• Atlanta, Georgia
9 May 23
@TheHorse I like that one too. What about? She can’t help being ugly but she coulda stayed home.
2 people like this
popciclecold
@popciclecold (40248)
• United States
9 May 23
Yes, bun in the oven is quite popular.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
10 May 23
I can't remember when I first heard it. I think I was a teenager.
1 person likes this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (50406)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 May 23
I think my favorite is "Technical adjustment upside the head"... I know I use it a lot (the phrase, not the actual "adjustment").
1 person likes this
celticeagle
@celticeagle (180243)
• Boise, Idaho
8 May 23
My favorite figure of speech is "beside oneself". I love it! I was beside myself.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (154220)
• India
8 May 23
Have not heard of it may be because such things happen only in America? I have several that I use and 'crying wolf, wolf' comes to mind
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
We use "crying wolf" here.
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (123126)
• Marion, Ohio
7 May 23
Have heard that one a few times. I would have laughed at marriage before kids also
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 May 23
We Americans are so jaded.
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (32715)
• United Kingdom
7 May 23
Yes I've heard of a bun in the oven. There are loads of funny saying here. One my Dad remembered people saying but I've not heard was 'Well I'll go to the bottom of our stairs!' Meaning they were astonished.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231047)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 May 23
I have never heard that one!
2 people like this
Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (47728)
• Staten Island, New York
8 May 23
I’ve heard of that one. Drawing a blank trying to think of others. But I’m sure I know some.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (202244)
• United States
8 May 23
Yes, more and more couples are having children first and then getting married. Sigh. Yes, I've heard "bun in the oven". Can't think of a single colloquialism when someone asks me! Happy Monday! How about "The light's on but no one's home"?
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (160178)
• United States
8 May 23
Yes, I know "bun in the oven". Have you heard "Sh*t fire and save the matches!"? Dad used to say that one a lot!
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (89474)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 May 23
Yep, I know the saying. I love bats in the bellfry a few cards/ short of a full deck/ halleluhah! and pass the coffee and some other I cannot think of right now
1 person likes this