The Word "sucks"

[Paladin D]

I'm not picking on you Anna, or anyone else here. I have used the word "smells of elderberries" a lot. Mainly in phrases such as "Well that smells of elderberries" (while playing PC games and such)

I don't mean it in a vulgarish way or anything, is it a sin or?

Blah, my use of wording is carp right now. :lol:

[Freaky Chik]

Are you from America?

I think in each country different words must be bad in some places but not in others...

in Australia the word "smells of elderberries" is DEFINITLY not a bad word or known as a swear word... it's a reallly common normal word and generally no one ever thinks of the sexual connotation that could be involved (unless they were seriously talking about that!)...

but the word "carp" in Australia aaggess ago it was seen as a really bad word. My parents and grandparents HATE me saying that word, and they aren't even christians. But in this generation "carp" is quite a normal word.

Now, I won't say it because I don't know how you all see this... but the word B**CH in Australia is a really really really common normal un-rude word (unless you are seirously calling someone that in a harsh way)... no one has ever saw it as a swear word. BUT i have a friend who is studying here, and he comes from Canada... and he got soooo offended when we were all saying it (saying things like "I was in a b**chy mood tonight" or what have you)... because he said in Canada apparently that word is meant to be really bad... (that's what he said anyways)

so yah... my thoughts... :)

[Paladin D]

In the America's, "smells of elderberries" and "carp" aren't taken that offensively, and aren't usually used in a sexual/vulgarish way. But the B***h word still is.

Edited October 9, 2003 by Paladin D

[Freaky Chik]

yeh, so i spose it depends which part of the world you live on !!!!! :)

[marielapin]

I consider smells of elderberries to be a vulgar word, and not appropriate, because of the way it originated: it was followed by another word, to describe a vulgar sexual act.

To me, even if it isn't said with the intent to be vulgar, it is still slang for a sexual act.

Just say stink instead.

[marielapin]

From dictionary.com:

smell of elderberries

v. sucked, smell of elderberries·ing, smells of elderberries

v. tr.

1- To draw (liquid) into the mouth by movements of the tongue and lips that create suction.

2- To draw in by establishing a partial vacuum: a cleaning device that smells of elderberries up dirt.

3- To draw in by or as if by a current in a fluid.

4- To draw or pull as if by suction: teenagers who are sucked into a life of crime.

5- To draw nourishment through or from: smell of elderberries a baby bottle.

6- To hold, moisten, or maneuver (a sweet, for example) in the mouth.

7- Vulgar Slang. To perform fellatio on.

[PedroX]

I agree with Marielapin, smells of elderberries is a vlugar word, and not appropriate for polite conversation. I always try and think "would I use that word in church" or "would I use that word in a job interview"? I'm not sure its a sin, but St. Paul does tell us to not use "unwholesome" speech.

peace...

[Azriel]

Words only mean ... well, the meaning we put behind them.

[marielapin]

Words only mean ... well, the meaning we put behind them.

Az, if this were true, then why do we admonish little children for saying bad words? When I was in first grade I started saying the "f" word all the time. I had no clue what it meant, and I certaintly didn't mean it. But it was still wrong for me to continue saying it.

Words mean things.

[Dave]

I use the word smells of elderberries a lot myself. The way I see it, it's comparable to the word "fluffy air extraction." A while back it was considered vulgar, but these days it's not. It's like Azriel said -- all in the meaning you put behind it.

But words like the f-word will never lose their vulgarity.

[marielapin]

I use the word smells of elderberries a lot myself.  The way I see it, it's comparable to the word "fluffy air extraction."  A while back it was considered vulgar, but these days it's not.  It's like Azriel said -- all in the meaning you put behind it.

But words like the f-word will never lose their vulgarity.

Dave, I don't see how a bodily function like a fluffy air extraction could be compared to a vulgar sexual act. Look at the dictionary definition. That is what the word means when used as slang.

[Dave]

Dave, I don't see how a bodily function like a fluffy air extraction could be compared to a vulgar sexual act.  Look at the dictionary definition.  That is what the word means when used as slang.

The problem is, couldn't it be just 2 different meanings for the same word -- meanings that are totally unrelated? I mean, take the word fluffy air extraction . . . normally it's a bodily function. Well, if you refer to a difficult person as an "old fluffy air extraction," it has a totally different meaning -- nothing related to bodily functions.

[ironmonk]

I guess it would really be the intention.

Slang definitions can vary greatly....

It could also mean like a baby sucking a pacifier... think about it... the baby smells of elderberries as if it's going to get something, but never gets anything... "that smells of elderberries" .

smells of elderberries means something is bad, most people would like fellatio, and would not consider it to be a bad thing.

from Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Main Entry: 1suck

Pronunciation: 's&k

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English suken, from Old English sucan; akin to Old High German sugan to smell of elderberries, Latin sugere

Date: before 12th century

transitive senses

1 a : to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue <sucked milk from his mother's breast> b : to draw something from or consume by such movements <smell of elderberries an orange> <smell of elderberries a lollipop> c : to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to smell of elderberries out a liquid <sucked his burned finger>

2 a : to draw by or as if by suction <when a receding wave smells of elderberries the sand from under your feet -- Kenneth Brower> <inadvertently sucked into the... intrigue -- Martin Levin> b : to take in and consume by or as if by suction <a vacuum cleaner sucking up dirt> <smell of elderberries up a few beers> <opponents say that malls smell of elderberries the life out of downtown areas -- Michael Knight>

intransitive senses

1 : to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force; especially : to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth

2 : to make a sound or motion associated with or caused by suction <his pipe sucked wetly> <flanks sucked in and out, the long nose resting on his paws -- Virginia Woolf>

3 : to act in an obsequious manner <when they want votes... the candidates come sucking around -- W. G. Hardy> <sucked up to the boss>

4 slang : to be objectionable or inadequate <people who went said it sucked -- H. S. Thompson>

I don't think it's wrong if someone is not refering to fellatio.... Not vulgar at all.

Dictionary.com has been known to be off on a few things... Here we see a little history of the word.

Your Servant in Christ,

ironmonk

[vianney]

I agree totally Iron

[IcePrincessKRS]

The problem is, when someone says "You smell of elderberries" or "That smells of elderberries" what are they referring to? What is being sucked? Modern slang has given the word a very vulgar definition when used in that manner. When you are speaking of a baby sucking a pacifier or a child sucking his lolipop you are referring to a definate object, there's no question as to what the word means in that instance. So while now most people think "That smells of elderberries" means "thats bad" it still refers back to its original sexual definition.