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Originally Posted by Mile High Mania
Off topic, this comment has always made me wonder what the hell it means. I've said it often, but what is the origin of this phrase?
I mean I've said it, but it's not like I carry around a bag of rat's asses to give each time I say it. Anyone know where this comment started?
I've also heard it used as "I could give..." or "I couldn't give..."
And, "rat's ass" has been replaced with "two shits" and other things from time to time.
Thoughts?
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Not a clue.
I read a great story about the etymology of one phrase common in the English language, which military afficianados might like.
The great British Admiral Lord Nelson was second in command of the British Fleet at the Battle of Copenhagen, in which the British engaged the Dutch. At this point, Nelson was already blind in the right eye as a result of his prior combats on behalf of the British Navy.
Nelson, of course, always was a proponent of charging into the enemy and letting the British navy's superior rate of fire win the battle. He wasn't one for elaborate tactics. Get close and destroy was his motto.
He had taken his element of the fleet in close and was heavily engaged. As I said, however, he was SECOND in command of the fleet. The old Admiral commanding the fleet thought he saw the British getting killed and raised signal flags instructing Nelson to disengage and withdraw.
Nelson ignored the signal flags for some time but then one of his lieutenant's pointed out the signal flag and asked if Nelson didn't see it.
Nelson put his handheld telescope up to his right (blind) eye and said "I can honestly say I see no flag" and ignored the signal flag.
Following the battle, he was quoted as having said that he had a blind eye as a result of his service, and had a right to use it on occassion. For the tremendous victory at Copenhagen, Nelson was elevated and given his own fleet, and led the British to victory at Trafalgar a few years later.
So the next time you "turn a blind eye" to something....