Both you faithful readers of this blog know that I often wonder about various things. A couple of months ago, an announcer was interviewing a football player prior to one of the playoff games and the player said, \u201cthis is not my first rodeo.\u201d I\u2019d heard the phrase before and I know that \u201cThis ain\u2019t my first rodeo\u201d is pretty much telling a person that you\u2019re more prepared for a given situation, and maybe even that it doesn\u2019t offer much of a challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I did some checking and it appears that the phrase can be traced back to the movie Mommie Dearest<\/em>, in which a character says, \u201cThis ain\u2019t my first time at the rodeo.\u201d But what made me wonder is why the term \u201crodeo?\u201d Why use rodeo to tell someone that you\u2019r not a novice to a situation, that you have experience or that you are competent? I\u2019d venture to say most people have never even been to a rodeo. Why didn\u2019t the football player just say, \u201cThis ain\u2019t my first football game (or playoff game?)\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve also heard the term, \u201cMy last rodeo.\u201d That\u2019s usually used when someone is in the latter stage of their career, or about to finish something. Why not just say \u201cmy retirement?\u201d Besides not my first rodeo, and my last rodeo, I\u2019ve heard that been to the rodeo, that means something like been exposed to conmen or hucksters, or being experienced. And I\u2019ve often heard the phrase straight out of the shoot, which means something done immediately, or from the beginning. That phrase is taken from the rodeo terminology \u2014 a bucking bronco, or bull is kept in a narrow pen, called the chute, until it is released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyhow, my question hasn\u2019t been answered \u2014 how did the word rodeo become part of American slang, especially in parts of the US where \u201crodeo\u201d is almost a foreign term\u2026 Maybe I\u2019ll just never know\u2026.. I\u2019ve heard the phrase that the opera isn\u2019t over \u2019till the fat lady sings. Where I grew up, it was more like, the rodeo ain\u2019t over till the bull riders ride. Both you faithful readers of this blog know that I often wonder about various things. A couple of months ago, an announcer was interviewing a football player prior to one of the playoff games and the player said, \u201cthis is … Continue reading
I remember Hearing Peyton Manning saying something like, \u201cthis might be my last rodeo, so it sure has been a pleasure\u201d after he won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. Why didn\u2019t he just say this might be my last game?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rodeos have been part of cowboy culture in America for centuries \u2014 they were very popular where I grew up, but Claire had never been to a rodeo before we were married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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