I did it! I jerked a knot in something! A couple of years ago, former neighbor Amy shared that warning with me. We may have been discussing Southern sayings. She explained that an adult could put some grit in her voice and threaten a child, “If you don’t quit doing that, I’m gonna jerk a knot in you!”
How I longed to use that phrase! Isn’t it rich? Amy’s demonstration was perfect. This sweet, loving woman had a snarling tone that would have made me stop short and leave skid marks. I wanted to say it just like she did. Alas, there would be no opportunity. My children are grown, maybe even overgrown. In this day and age, you’d have to be a blood relative out of earshot of the verbal abuse police to say it. Whispering wouldn’t have the same effect. It would have to stay locked in my head, forever useless.
I was in a hurry to untie my sneakers. I jerked on the lace, and it whipped around under my fingers. I stared, dumbfounded. There were two knots – not one, but TWO! I did it! I jerked a knot in something! Whoa! You’d better slow down and pick apart those loops, or you’ll be sorry. (I made the knots larger than the original when staging this.) It wasn’t quite my dream come true, but it was close.
“I jerked a knot in you, Sneaker!”
Mehrling Muse 
“Stop short and left skid marks.” Delightfully descriptive!
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I suspect it’s a writer’s thing. I’ll get an expression stuck in my head, and edit it from who-knows-how-many pieces because it actually didn’t fit.
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That is amusing. I tend to have music repeating in my head, and it’s never anything I really like.
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😄
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I’ve never heard that phrase.
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I didn’t grow up with that phrase, Kate. A best friend who grew up with me in TN said it was a favorite saying in her husband’s family. They were from NC.
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Heehee:)
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Haha, poor sneaker!
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You were tough on the sneaker Anne. Wish you had a pic of how it was done( twice over).
Susie
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I have never had anything like that happen before with a shoelace. I’m sure I couldn’t repeat it.
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I love Southern expressions! Evelyn sent me a video a few years ago of a bunch of Southern gals sitting around discussing life and it was full of Southern idioms – it was hysterical.
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We are a funny bunch. My brother-in-law always laughs when I say, “Golly Pete!”
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I think you’ve said “Golly Pete” to me before –
I do love the Southern idioms and I’d pick up a lot of them after working all Summer at the diner … I worked six days a week while on Summer break from school. Everyone was from the South and the clientele too. Erdie, my boss, would say “It’s comin’ up a storm!” when the sky got dark … here in Lincoln Park it is “comin’ up a storm” too … another walking day is lost as it is raining now and stormy later through mid-day at least.
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I could like half your comment. Thumbs down for more rain.
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That is too funny. I have never heard that expression before.
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That expression was new to me two years ago. I have yet to hear it used for real.
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I love that phrase, I had never heard it before either. You definitely acted it out on the shoe lol. 😊💟
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I will continue looking for jerked knots. Maybe they would taste good, like jerky.
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I’ve never heard that saying and I thought I’d heard all the Southern sayings there were! Gotta laugh about your shoelace, though. How literal can you be?!
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That shoelace was maniacal. I’ve had knots before, but not like that.
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well when you put your mind to something . . . hahah! good for you, except for the knots in the laces-ugh!
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