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From the Trailer Park: Dinner For Schmucks49 comments to From the Trailer Park: Dinner For SchmucksLeave a Reply |
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From the Trailer Park: Dinner For Schmucks49 comments to From the Trailer Park: Dinner For SchmucksLeave a Reply |
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Copyright © 2012 threedonia.com - All Rights Reserved Powered by WordPress & Atahualpa |
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OK, who wrote a script about me without my permission?
Seriously, this reminds me a lot of the premise of Larry Shue’s play, “The Nerd,” which I starred in once, in community theater, long ago. (For the record, the star is not the nerd, but the victim of his nerditude.)
Perhaps I’m mistaken (it happens frequently) but isn’t schmuck is a tad vulgar to be included in movie title. Not that I’m offended, mind you and not that I’m surprised.
Doesn’t schmuck refer to a specific part of the male anatomy that is removed by a moyle?
So if one is called a schmuck you are insulted by being compared to a part of the anatomy that is held in such low regard you are surgically removed and discarded.
but I think it’s entered the vernacular as “idiot”. It’s like “sucks”. If I said “that sucks” in the 1970s my Mom would’ve killed me. She says stuff “sucks” all the time — and I don’t think it’s a reference to oral sex.
Only a Yiddish person reading 1st editions of Isaac Bashevis Singer stories in the 1940s would know that schmuck meant “penis”
Are you two confusing “schmuck” with “putz?”
I don’t know Yiddish, but it’s basically “pigeon German.” There are two common uses (that I’m aware of) for the word “schmuck” in German. The first is decorating a Christmas tree. You literally “schmuck” the tree. The second is jewelry; “Look at the schmuck that Frau has on!” I’ve always assumed the word refers mainly to gaudy, ostentatious displays.
Like Americans, the Germans were fascinated by the French and tend to use French words for high-falutin’ stuff. So the Germans typically use the word “juwelen” to denote jewelry. You’ll never see a sign over a store in Germany that reads, “Schmuck” but you can walk into a Juwelen store in Germany and ask to see schmuck and nobody will bat an eyelash.
So, I always assumed the German Jews took the word “schmuck” and appended it to someone tacky, or gaudy; someone trying too hard to look sophisticated. “What a schmuck.” In time it devolved to refer to any fool; whether ostentatious or not.
According to almighty Wikipedia schmuck is a Yiddish pejorative for penis that we’ve morphed into “idiot”. Putz is “penis” Schumck is D&*k. I think that’s the difference.
I’m so glad I frequent this place, otherwise I would have never known…
Tracy! I love your avatar!
I’ll bet an etymologist would tell us wikipedia’s got it wrong. I don’t doubt it’s devolved to that in some circles, but if you understand the original usage it makes no sense. I’ve never heard a German use the word with any hint of embarrassment. And, I honestly don’t think Jewish people use it that way either. That’s what the word “putz” is for. I suppose one could say people use the word “schmuck” in Yiddish the way we use the word “dick,” but I doubt “schmuck” was ever a euphemism for “penis.” I’m relatively sure no German, Jewish or otherwise, would refer to an actual penis with the word, “schmuck,” but “putz” is used that way.
According to my authority, “Young Frankenstein”, “shwanstucher” is the correct word!
I saw an interview with Mel Brooks where he said that when he wrote the script, he didn’t know what the word “schwanzstucker” meant (and he still doesn’t- it’s just something he heard somewhere). But he went to a screening of the film where there were a bunch of Germans in the front row, and he said they were literally rolling on the floor laughing at that joke.
The way I heard the word was “schwanz” and “stu(umlaut)ck” + “er” which would translate to “tailpiece” + “er.” While “schwanz” means “tail” Germans do use it to also refer to “penis.”
Yiddish isn’t German though. The Wikipedia article had the German too as jewlery or something. Besides — how is calling someone a Christmas ornament in the least funny or demeaning (except maybe Hitchens)
As I wrote, it almost certainly began as “gaudy” or “tacky.” A “show-off” “Ornamentation” “Flamboyant” “Foppish” Maybe that’s the right analogy. Just as calling someone a “fop” in Shakespeare’s day was the equivalent of Monty Python’s “twit of the year” a “schmuck” was the same thing. And, in a similar fashion, “twit” now can be used to describe any old fool, regardless of social status.
I’ll bet Trzuper’s next three month’s wages from Threedonia that my guess is correct. Is there a German etymologist in the house?!
In a battle royale between Wikipedia and Rufus I’ll go with you of course — especially when my real last name is the only German word I know.
“Mutzenfutch” is German?
When I was living in Germany, I heard my landlady use the word “schputz” (that’s how it was pronounced…not sure of the spelling) to refer to the male part.
Is there a research grant available for this subject?
I don’t even want to know the particulars that led to that coming up in a conversation between you and the landlady!
I really don’t remember, unless she was referring to her husband. She, however, did seem inclined to serve me cognac everytime I’d go downstairs to pay the rent! Still not sure what that was all about.
Obviously you have never seen the Rob Lowe classic, “Youngblood.”
I should wait for video for this, but looks too damn funny not to see in the theatre.
Steve Carell and Paul Rudd. Are there two funnier guys working in Hollywood today? Repeated viewings of Anchorman and The 40 Year-Old Virgin say no.
Maybe only Zach Garafirakinitisopolous.
Ha!
Jimmy… I saw Clueless again the other day and he’s good in that too (even though he was the straight man there). He blows Will Ferrell out of the water in Anchorman.
“I know it sounds harsh, but God does not want her to live.”
I love Clueless….Paul is ADORABLE in that.
Paul Rudd in Role Models is the awesome.
Oy vey! This is gon’na hurt! Must focus…difficult to breath…losing consciousness…I have researched the etymology of this word and it appears…steady, steady…you can do this old man…take another swig of Glenfiddich for courage…it appears…The College Widow and Floyd are…are…appear to be…may possibly be…accurate.
Ha! I leave for a while and return to find I’ve inspired a hot debate and the ultimate discovery that I was right, more or less. I was in the ballpark so to speak on the meaning of the word. No worries, Rufus, no insufferable boasting from me.
Is Threedonia great or what? Where else can you get discourse like this?
Rufus, pass the Glenfiddich this way.
“no insufferable boasting from me”
See Floyd? Even The College Widow thinks you’ve become braggadocious and intolerable.
In your absence I also fought for your honor* regarding the scurrilous innuendo surrounding the obviously doctor’ed photo Floyd posted on this site.
*which is probably more than you’ve ever done.
Thank you, Rufus!
I hate to tell you this Rufus, but around the office we call you The Widow Maker.
Apparently I screwed up. Yiddish “schmuck” does not come from the German “schmuck.” It comes from Polish “smok” (pronounced “schmuck”) and means “snake.”
From (http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=s&p=7)
I was unable to find a picture of Johnny Carson wearing plaid and smirking sarcastically so you’ll just have to imagine it.
Now pour me a Glenfiddich — make it a double good sir.
if you must know my Christian name is Uber Schlong
HAHAHAHA! I am still laughing/screaming inside. I am sure the college students love addressing you as such. To your face or behind your back? That is the question!
The wager was Rich’s next three month’s Threedonian wages. That’ll get you a jigger of Johnnie Walker in a dixie cup with a tap water chaser.
We’re paying Rich that much? I thought it might be a 6-pack of Milwaukee’s Best at most.
I thought he was being paid 1 bowl of sauerkraut every day.
Sorry, Rufus…I posted my comment above, before I got this far.
Ya know, I’ll bet these immigrants get really confused when they see “Smuckers Jam” on the shelf.
Don’t know how many of you saw the “original” version of this flic (or at least its inspiration) – “The Dinner Game” is what it was translated to from its French title – but it was first rate. If you can deal with movies with sub-titles, check it out.
Yesterday was the masturbation music; today’s all about the penis. Do you boys think of nothing else?
Ummmmm, uhhhhh … what?
Floyd, got some boobies? FEMALE boobies?
Nice save, Eric. We dodged a bullet there.
Like this?
Ummmmm, uhhhhh … what?