Examples of phrases in the "[VERB] your [NOUN]" form?
October 30, 2013 11:23 AM Subscribe
Follow your Dreams. Chase your Passion. [VERB] your [NOUN]. What are some common or novel encouraging phrases that fit this mold?
As a silly part of an upcoming development activity for some young creative-types, I'm compiling a collection of rah-rah platitudes in this particular form. Wrestle your Alligator, Climb your Mountain, Request your Pony, etc... I'd love it if you could throw any that occur to you on the pile. Common, established phrases are great, as are any new ones you can concoct that are parsible as an encouraging cliché.
Thanks in advance for anything you can contribute.
As a silly part of an upcoming development activity for some young creative-types, I'm compiling a collection of rah-rah platitudes in this particular form. Wrestle your Alligator, Climb your Mountain, Request your Pony, etc... I'd love it if you could throw any that occur to you on the pile. Common, established phrases are great, as are any new ones you can concoct that are parsible as an encouraging cliché.
Thanks in advance for anything you can contribute.
Pimp your pimples
posted by Namlit at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Namlit at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
In addition to dreams, there's also 'follow your bliss,' 'follow your heart,' and 'follow your fear' (aka take risks).
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2013
posted by showbiz_liz at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2013
Kill your darlings.
posted by Sternmeyer at 11:33 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sternmeyer at 11:33 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
watch your six.
posted by bruce at 11:35 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by bruce at 11:35 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Be your idol / be your inspiration / be your __________ (anything fits here)
Find your Bliss
eat your cake (as in have your cake and eat it too)
Live your dream
Vanquish your demons
Destroy your enemies
Floss your teeth
Eat your vegetables
bust your ass/kick your ass (ie. work hard)
kiss your wife
toot your horn
Earn your way
Not fitting in to your VERB your NOUN precisely:
- My co-worker always says "Be your own cow" as a reference to being an individual. Obviously there is a story behind it, but still.. She's odd but awesome.
- I often say "Know where your bread is buttered". Basically it means to remember who really has your back, who has helped you get where you are.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:37 AM on October 30, 2013
Find your Bliss
eat your cake (as in have your cake and eat it too)
Live your dream
Vanquish your demons
Destroy your enemies
Floss your teeth
Eat your vegetables
bust your ass/kick your ass (ie. work hard)
kiss your wife
toot your horn
Earn your way
Not fitting in to your VERB your NOUN precisely:
- My co-worker always says "Be your own cow" as a reference to being an individual. Obviously there is a story behind it, but still.. She's odd but awesome.
- I often say "Know where your bread is buttered". Basically it means to remember who really has your back, who has helped you get where you are.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:37 AM on October 30, 2013
watch your back
help your self
shut your pieholde
luff your jib
move your hiney
shake your moneymaker
hoist your colours
nobble your nippers
twang your twiglets
posted by runincircles at 11:40 AM on October 30, 2013
help your self
shut your pieholde
luff your jib
move your hiney
shake your moneymaker
hoist your colours
nobble your nippers
twang your twiglets
posted by runincircles at 11:40 AM on October 30, 2013
Immanentize the Eschaton.
posted by trunk muffins at 11:40 AM on October 30, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by trunk muffins at 11:40 AM on October 30, 2013 [5 favorites]
Fuck yo couch.
posted by rlk at 11:52 AM on October 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by rlk at 11:52 AM on October 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Walk your talk.
Hack your brain.
Walk your path.
Pedal your bike.
Sing your song.
posted by dywypi at 11:56 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hack your brain.
Walk your path.
Pedal your bike.
Sing your song.
posted by dywypi at 11:56 AM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Be the ball.
posted by Gungho at 12:10 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Gungho at 12:10 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Be the change
posted by dpx.mfx at 12:11 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dpx.mfx at 12:11 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
hold your horses
posted by shortyJBot at 12:20 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by shortyJBot at 12:20 PM on October 30, 2013
Take your time
Take your pick
Mark your calendar
Mark your territory
Pimp your ride
posted by mhum at 12:52 PM on October 30, 2013
Take your pick
Mark your calendar
Mark your territory
Pimp your ride
posted by mhum at 12:52 PM on October 30, 2013
Common Appalachian Trail encouragement: Hike your [own] hike.
posted by maggieb at 1:02 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by maggieb at 1:02 PM on October 30, 2013
Feel your feelings.
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:09 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by needs more cowbell at 1:09 PM on October 30, 2013
Follow your drummer
Check your self (before you)
Wreck your self.
posted by Shohn at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2013
Check your self (before you)
Wreck your self.
posted by Shohn at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2013
Drink your Ovaltine.
posted by radwolf76 at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by radwolf76 at 1:36 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I am blowing my lid at how great these all are. I greedily hope for more!
posted by chudmonkey at 1:59 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by chudmonkey at 1:59 PM on October 30, 2013
Bang your gong
Fling your mango*
* - Derived from a hilarious expression in Cuban Spanish - ese le zumba el mango - "that really flings the mango," which is roughly analogous to "that really takes the cake." Basically a phrase you would use to describe something completely unbelievable.
posted by jquinby at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2013
Fling your mango*
* - Derived from a hilarious expression in Cuban Spanish - ese le zumba el mango - "that really flings the mango," which is roughly analogous to "that really takes the cake." Basically a phrase you would use to describe something completely unbelievable.
posted by jquinby at 2:12 PM on October 30, 2013
declaw your caterpillar
posted by Namlit at 2:13 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Namlit at 2:13 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mind your business.
Own your shit.
Dig your own grave.
Float your boat.
Feel your pain.
posted by thinkpiece at 2:32 PM on October 30, 2013
Own your shit.
Dig your own grave.
Float your boat.
Feel your pain.
posted by thinkpiece at 2:32 PM on October 30, 2013
Cool your jets!
posted by thinkpiece at 2:57 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by thinkpiece at 2:57 PM on October 30, 2013
I'm dumb wats.
posted by thinkpiece at 3:05 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by thinkpiece at 3:05 PM on October 30, 2013
omg the original: Do Your Thing.
OK, stopping now ...
posted by thinkpiece at 3:08 PM on October 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
OK, stopping now ...
posted by thinkpiece at 3:08 PM on October 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Kill your idols
posted by Dr Dracator at 3:23 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr Dracator at 3:23 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
This ask.me needs a soundtrack. Take it away, Isaac - Do Your Thing
(^Inspired by thinkpiece)
posted by maggieb at 3:38 PM on October 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
(^Inspired by thinkpiece)
posted by maggieb at 3:38 PM on October 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
I wish we had "screwed the pooch" in the UK.
But you've got "gone pear shaped", which makes up for it.
posted by benito.strauss at 4:39 PM on October 30, 2013
But you've got "gone pear shaped", which makes up for it.
posted by benito.strauss at 4:39 PM on October 30, 2013
Check your privilege.
Eat your vegetables.
Mind your manners.
Watch your back.
Do your homework.
Write your mother.
Drink your milk.
Free your mind.
posted by kyrademon at 4:40 PM on October 30, 2013
Eat your vegetables.
Mind your manners.
Watch your back.
Do your homework.
Write your mother.
Drink your milk.
Free your mind.
posted by kyrademon at 4:40 PM on October 30, 2013
Free your mind. (Your ass will follow.)
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 4:42 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 4:42 PM on October 30, 2013
(Dammit, kyrademon.)
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 4:42 PM on October 30, 2013
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 4:42 PM on October 30, 2013
Verbs:
Embrace
Harass
Disappoint
Plant
Scandalise
Mother / Father (note the sigh differences between these verbs)
Knead / Pummel
Illuminate
Frustrate
Abandon
Enlarge
Choreograph
Educate
Manipulate
Bits in-between: (you'll have to select the right one to make sense)
Your
The
All / Every
Many
Some
Nouns:
Adversaries!
Flourishing!
Destiny!
Originality!
Differences!
Facebook! (relevant other object of interest / destain)
Numeracy!
Alliteration! (goes well with 'Abandon' and 'Any')
Ignorance!
Offspring!
posted by Joeruckus at 6:03 PM on October 30, 2013
Embrace
Harass
Disappoint
Plant
Scandalise
Mother / Father (note the sigh differences between these verbs)
Knead / Pummel
Illuminate
Frustrate
Abandon
Enlarge
Choreograph
Educate
Manipulate
Bits in-between: (you'll have to select the right one to make sense)
Your
The
All / Every
Many
Some
Nouns:
Adversaries!
Flourishing!
Destiny!
Originality!
Differences!
Facebook! (relevant other object of interest / destain)
Numeracy!
Alliteration! (goes well with 'Abandon' and 'Any')
Ignorance!
Offspring!
posted by Joeruckus at 6:03 PM on October 30, 2013
There's also an alarming number of euphemisms for peeing and masturbation that fit this same schema....
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 6:16 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 6:16 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Paint your wagon.
Hold your tongue.
Wipe your feet.
Remember the Alamo.
And, of course, Spank Your Monkey.
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:15 PM on October 30, 2013
Hold your tongue.
Wipe your feet.
Remember the Alamo.
And, of course, Spank Your Monkey.
posted by MexicanYenta at 8:15 PM on October 30, 2013
I'd keep them on their toes with some less motivational ones...
Seize your Siesta
Unleash your Uselessness
Overdraft your Account
Lose your Wallet
... You know just to make sure they're listening.
posted by W.S (disambiguation) at 9:47 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seize your Siesta
Unleash your Uselessness
Overdraft your Account
Lose your Wallet
... You know just to make sure they're listening.
posted by W.S (disambiguation) at 9:47 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Miss your chance.
Waste your life.
Drown your sorrows.
Burn your bridges.
posted by flabdablet at 10:57 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Waste your life.
Drown your sorrows.
Burn your bridges.
posted by flabdablet at 10:57 PM on October 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
(go) fuck your self! (not you, of course!)
posted by stillmoving at 12:01 AM on October 31, 2013
posted by stillmoving at 12:01 AM on October 31, 2013
Courtesy of Cordelia from Buffy: Spank your (inner) moppet.
posted by ashirys at 6:33 AM on October 31, 2013
posted by ashirys at 6:33 AM on October 31, 2013
Nautical:
Haul your Wind.
Port your Helm
Blow your Gaff
House your Guns
posted by BigLankyBastard at 9:23 AM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Haul your Wind.
Port your Helm
Blow your Gaff
House your Guns
posted by BigLankyBastard at 9:23 AM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Lance your boil
Squash your spider
Bludgeon your pinata
posted by duffell at 11:26 AM on October 31, 2013
Squash your spider
Bludgeon your pinata
posted by duffell at 11:26 AM on October 31, 2013
Bide your time
Count your blessings
Stand your ground
Feed your head
Stifle yourself (Archie to Edith)
posted by maggieb at 11:50 AM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Count your blessings
Stand your ground
Feed your head
Stifle yourself (Archie to Edith)
posted by maggieb at 11:50 AM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
There's also something to be said for
Floss your Braces
posted by Namlit at 1:16 PM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Floss your Braces
posted by Namlit at 1:16 PM on October 31, 2013 [1 favorite]
Find/follow your bliss
Make your magic
Follow your star
Find your north
Trust your heart
Walk your walk
posted by lifethatihavenotlivedyet at 11:17 PM on October 31, 2013
Make your magic
Follow your star
Find your north
Trust your heart
Walk your walk
posted by lifethatihavenotlivedyet at 11:17 PM on October 31, 2013
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posted by Melismata at 11:25 AM on October 30, 2013