Figures of Speech

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Here is what wilkepedia says about "Thinking outside the box".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking_outside_the_box

Thinking outside the box is a cliché or catchphrase used to refer to looking at a problem from a new perspective without preconceptions, sometimes called a process of lateral thought. The catchphrase has become widely used in business environments, especially by management consultants and executive coaches, and has spawned a number of advertising slogans. "Out-of-the-box-y-ness" has also caught on recently, typically used to describe creative, wacky, smart ideas.

mojo123

"How did you find it?"

"I've been here before"

why box though?

The box symbolizes something that people are trapped in. You have to escape the box in order to be able to think freely.

I've heard people give answers like 'the sky' or 'the clouds' as a joke. Literal humour can be funny sometimes, even when it's intentional.

I am okay with figures of speech and metaphors but that's probably something to do with my upbringing - both of my parents were English teachers. I learned from a very early age about figurative language so I've never had much of a problem with it.

Two figures of speech that I absolutely love are 'two clowns short of a circus' (meaning incredibly dumb) and 'scarce as rocking horse manure' (non-existent.) The image they create really hits the nail on the head.

Two sandwiches short of a picnic.
Crazy as a loon.
Not the brightest bulb on the Hanukah tree.
Amish coloured crayon.

Haha, never heard that one before.

That's one of my favourites.

"not the brightest crayon in the box" :D

(not very smart, or "bright")

I know most of the figures of speech and their meanings, except for the most recent slang. I saw a great "Cat Idioms" post on my cat site the other day. I loved it!

I had a friend that would always say the sky when people asked him whats up

back in five - minutes

what's up? - it's a direction, but that's not important right now (Airplane)

not the brightest crayon in the box - not too intelligent, not the sharpest tool in the shed, elevator doesn't go all the way to the top, a few bricks shy of a load, a few items short of a taco plate (you get the picture. I feel like I'm channeling George Carlin...

Think outside the box - approach a problem from a non-traditional way. Consider it as if you've never thought about it. Try new approaches, etc.

Phat - a slang term, meaning high-quality, worth having, etc. This stuff changes just as soon as a non-'in crowd' person reports it.

Shorty - a woman. why, I dunno...

how ya doin' - actually a noise that means 'I recognize your presence, but do not necessarily want to engage in conversation' - see also 'what's up', how's it hanging, whazzup, etc.

the one that always had me scratching my head was a real old one.

-I love my wife but oh you kid -

ok, do you love your wife, but you're tempted, or you love your wife, but not seriously?...

I used to take things literal more often when I was younger. I still do it sometimes now esp. if I haven't figured out if a person is being sarcastic or not. I eventually figure out what they meant later on.

when someone says something abstract, and I ask for them to clarify, they always think I'm being sarcastic :S