arsing around

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Published: 1976
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/3527

arsing around Similarly, a law prevails in the outharbor juvenile world that if the water is low there is only one regulation above the world, the flesh and the devil - on noticing the fact, all concerned must go down to the beach. Once there, the most crystal clear obvious thing to do is go "arsing around." These are decadent times. We have just about lost our language along with everything else. Such a phrase has to be explained in a most demeaning way. But we learn to live with "musts." Some English person wrote a phrase to the effect that "there is nothing half so good as messing around in boats." Everyone knows it. However, we don't mess around in this poor corner of the world. In Newfoundland we "arse" around. Hence, arsing around down in the landwash. Enough of the mechanics of the exercise and down to the fine point of it. Turning over rocks is the principal activity. The purpose of turning over rocks is manifestly clear to all but adults and prairie farmers. You turn over rocks to see what is under them. Otherwise, how would you know? PRINTED ITEM W. J. KIRWIN JAN 1976 JH JAN 1976 Not Used Not Used Withdrawn Checked by Jordyn Hughes on Wed 08 Jun 2016