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The Kitchen Table

Phrase of the day 4/30

jim_1 (Zone 5B)

2 years ago

All hands and the cook

Cowboys of the Old West gave us this expression to refer to a situation of extreme danger. When, for example, a herd of cattle stampeded, it was the responsibility of every cowhand – including the cook – to saddle up and work at the job of rounding up the rampaging herd.

Comments (3)

Annie Deighnaugh
2 years ago
Another new phrase on me. I have heard of 'all hands on deck', but none that included the cook.
stacey_mb
2 years ago
A new one for me - had never heard this expression before. Any situation would have to be pretty dire to keep the cook from their duties!
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And for those of us who didn't know: Snuff is a smokeless tobacco made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is inhaled or "snuffed" into the nasal cavity, delivering a swift hit of nicotine and a lasting flavoured scent (especially if flavouring has been blended with the tobacco). Was that the same as "take a powder"? Or was the powder something else?
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laceyvail 6A, WV
2 years ago
Never heard the expression, but it's not that it's so dire that it would keep the cook from his duties. It's that it's so dire that every single hand is needed--and normally the cook does absolutely nothing but cook and would be outraged to act outside his hired role except in a real emergency.

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