Comments on: Powder, to take a http://www.word-detective.com/2010/06/powder-to-take-a/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dora MacPherson http://www.word-detective.com/2010/06/powder-to-take-a/comment-page-1/#comment-42981 Dora MacPherson Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:14:04 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3272#comment-42981 I remember watching the old gangster movies with Lisbeth Scott. She would us the Phrase "he took a powder" with a straight face. I thought it meant that he was shot and killed. My logic was that some guns left a powder residue on the body. I was sure on the wrong track. So today I was thinking about it so I thought I would look it up. The powder room one is funnier yet. I remember watching the old gangster movies with Lisbeth Scott. She would us the Phrase “he took a powder” with a straight face.

I thought it meant that he was shot and killed.
My logic was that some guns left a powder residue on the body.
I was sure on the wrong track.
So today I was thinking about it so I thought I would look it up.
The powder room one is funnier yet.

]]> By: KarenK http://www.word-detective.com/2010/06/powder-to-take-a/comment-page-1/#comment-5051 KarenK Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:33:38 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3272#comment-5051 Wisconsin is bordered by two Great Lakes; I'm sure they could get a sailing ship in there somehow. Wisconsin is bordered by two Great Lakes; I’m sure they could get a sailing ship in there somehow.

]]> By: Steve Dunham http://www.word-detective.com/2010/06/powder-to-take-a/comment-page-1/#comment-5022 Steve Dunham Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:31:06 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=3272#comment-5022 That sounds like "take a powder" might have meant "take a trip to the powder room" and "take a run-out powder" might have meant to take an especially hasty trip to the powder room. Gotta go! That sounds like “take a powder” might have meant “take a trip to the powder room” and “take a run-out powder” might have meant to take an especially hasty trip to the powder room. Gotta go!

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