Tuesday, September 07, 2010

RAISING THE ROOF

Planning permission is being sought to raise the roof height to provide additional accommodation and a rear extension at 23 St Helen's Road, Brigg.
Brigg Town Council will consider this first, then North Lincolnshire planners will make a decision on whether to grant permission.

2 comments:

Ken Harrison said...

The slang expression, or figure of speech, 'Raising the Roof' relates to becoming extremely angry, or boisterous.

The expressions, 'Raising the Roof' and 'Hitting the Roof' seem to have the same origin and the same meaning.

Not to be confused with the naval expression. 'Hitting the Deck' that means getting out of bed/hammock and thus standing on the deck.
The expression has also taken on a more general meaning of falling, dropping to, or lying on the to floor.

Historically, it was common for folks to live in low-roofed cottages, or hovels. When someone becomes angry, the emotional state is often accompanied by raising/flaying arms above the head. This physical reaction could 'hit the rooof', or similarly, 'raise the roof'.

Figuratively speaking, someone could simultaneously, 'Raise the roof' when being told to 'Hit the deck'...Confusing, ain't it?

Are they very angry at 23, Scribs?

Ken Harrison said...

......and another housy expression, 'crossing the threshold'.


When these poor people in the small cottages were literally hitting the roof when they got angry...they use to put straw on their dried mud floor.

Another name for straw is thresh
and these poor folk needed a board across the doorway to stop the thresh from spilling outside - hench threshold and 'crossing the threshold.

It was okay, but one had to be very careful about dropping needles.