Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 08:41:03 -0600

From: Katherine Catmull kate[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]BGA.COM

Subject: Re: [p*tut]



OK, so I was wrong about the Laugh-In connection, but it appears that (at least

from the time of the e. e. cummings quote) a (horse's) patoot(ie) was indeed

the hindquarters of the relevant animal, hence 'you bet your sweet patootie'.





But "sweet patootie" can also be a term of endearment, like a baby-talk

"sweet potato."



There was an airline ad campaign from the '70s called "Take Me Along," in

which singing, dancing wives begged their husbands to take them along on

business trips. "I love ya, sweet patootie, but my office is my duty!" the

men would sing in reply. The airline offered free or cheap seats for

"wives" (note seventies assumption that wives don't have jobs) accompanying

husbands on business trips.



Incidentally the whole offer was a failure because husbands, it seemed,

didn't _want_ the option of taking wives n these trips . . .



Kate Catmull kate [AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]bga.com