Date: Fri, 1 Sep 1995 09:37:12 CST
From: Luanne von Schneidemesser lvonschn[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]FACSTAFF.WISC.EDU
Subject: Re: knee high to ?
In Message Fri, 1 Sep 1995 06:49:32 -0500,
wachal robert s rwachal[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]BLUE.WEEG.UIOWA.EDU writes:
"a grasshopper" is standard and the only form listed in Wentworth and
Flexner.
Chapman also lists 'bumblebee', 'spit', and 'splinter'. Spears 1st ed.
doesn't list the item and I don't have his 2nd ed. here at home.
Maybe Joan Hall has something from the DARE files.
Bob Wachal
We are entering 'knee-high to a grasshopper' in vol. 3. It appears
throughout the country, but the form 'knee-high to a duck' is found
chiefly in the South and South Midland. We also cite 'knee-high to
a pup, jackrabbit, toad, bumblebee, cock-sparrow, June-bug, nothing.'
Luanne