What is the origin of the phrase

Submitted by fungiyenta t3_ylf5jo in Maine

Give ah the dinnah! (As in give her the dinner). My husband who is from Maine says it but doesn’t know what it comes from. Who is she and how did giving her the dinner come to signify banging?

0

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

BinglesDangles t1_iuy59br wrote

I grew up in Maine and most of our stupid phrases were just dumb inside jokes. One time a parent said "Get my jacket off the floor! You're getting it dirty, friggin'". It was so absurd it got embedded into our vernacular. For a decade we would say "Dirty, friggin, jacket, friggin" and laugh like morons.

That said, I have never heard the phrase "Give ah the dinnah."

We said "She's a biscuit" (That girl is high maintenance), "Doin' the numbahs" (Rolling low quality joints) and "Swamp donkey" (Generic insult). Just dumb kid stuff.

8

kintokae t1_iuymsop wrote

I always enjoyed swamp donkey. My wife grew up in Maine but was originally from Colorado. She laughs at all my weird phrases that I picked up from my parents.

1

yupuhoh t1_iuy7liu wrote

That's usually said in regards to stomping on a gas pedal of some sorts.

8

fungiyenta OP t1_iuydhux wrote

He also says “rev ah up and dump ah”

1

yupuhoh t1_iuyegmh wrote

Yup. Sounds about normal. Lived on the east coast my whole life. We always said these but it's usually from going fast on anything with a motor

1

pineconehedgehog t1_iuy5dk0 wrote

Can't say I have ever heard that one and I went to MMA. Literally a school full of Maine sailors, so I don't think there is much I haven't heard.

5

Tacticalaxel t1_iuyh91e wrote

Do you mean. "Feed'er a hot suppah."?

5

derceej t1_iuy970e wrote

I've only heard, "give it the beans!"

4

flyingdash t1_iuy4wad wrote

Parents, grandparents and great grand parents all went to the same school as I did here in Maine. And I've never heard of it...

3

LaChanz t1_iuybbgm wrote

"Throw my wife down the stairs her coat!" - My French Canadian grandfather.

2

Sleuthiestofsleuths t1_iuydxye wrote

That's funny. It's Rhode Islandese too - "Throw me down the stairs my bag!"

2

GottaUseFakeNames t1_iuyfxlo wrote

My mom, who is from Rhode Island, would say that all the time while I was growing up. I didn’t realize it was a known thing till I was about 25 and an older guy at work said to me.

2

LaChanz t1_iuyd1bs wrote

I've heard "Give 'er the corn!" Never the dinnah.

2

GottaUseFakeNames t1_iuyg8b9 wrote

I’ve heard both. Wonder if it come from corn BEING the dinner. So rather than just giving ‘er the side dish (the corn) you need to give ‘er the whole meal (the dinnah)

2

philliumm t1_iuyq67r wrote

I always figured it was a little joke at the ethanol in the gas (give it some corn), I wonder if dinner came after as the next logical leap

2

LaChanz t1_iuyr31c wrote

Members of my family were saying it way before ethanol in our gas was a thing.

1

fungiyenta OP t1_iuydzrp wrote

Is this in reference to being with a woman or being in a car?

1

LaChanz t1_iuygf4y wrote

It's a reference to give more power no matter the source. Stuck in the snow or mud? Give er the corn! Stubborn bolt won't come loose? Give er the corn! Mother almost there? Well, you know.

2

hcrichton6969 t1_iuygdob wrote

I think it’s one of those phrases that can be multi purpose. It can definitely be related to sex, but also if you are driving fast or off roading.

2

w1ckedg00d t1_iv195cq wrote

give ah the bean suppah

2

BracedRhombus t1_iuyh20n wrote

What part of Maine is he from? I've lived here my whole life and never heard it.

1

fungiyenta OP t1_iuyhvz5 wrote

He’s from Readfield, central Maine

2

ozzie286 t1_iuyp19i wrote

I never understood why Augusta is considered "central" Maine. It's halfway between Portland and Bangor, but there's a whole lotta Maine north of Bangor.

2

ozzie286 t1_iuyn9ar wrote

I've heard it, and used it, but no idea the origin.

1

Goodunnn t1_iuzatvu wrote

Well, someone once said it to me, for the first time, as once, someone had said it to them for the first time, as once someone before that said it to them, and so on and so forth.

It’s also probably on the menu at Governor’s

1

instigator_74 t1_iv2k1tv wrote

This phrase is mainly used when you find that big spring mud hole and halfway through the 84’ F150 with 36” swappers starts boggin’

1