Z Is For Zwieback, A Good Way To End

/ Ally Bean

Screen Shot 2016-03-21 at 11.05.45 AM“You can’t dunk your zwieback in your Bosco.”

~ Radar O’Reilly, M*A*S*H

This quote, which is from an episode of M*A*S*H, refers to the uncomfortable feeling you have around someone who is more uptight + judgmental than you are.

Radar said it to Hawkeye in a literal way, referring to Colonel Potter, but over time this quote has come to be an idiom meaning that you’re not relaxed and confident around someone else because you’re afraid that you’ll do something wrong.

And get in trouble or be judged for it.

I’ve heard people in real life say this quote.  It’s clever, and it does show you how language + meaning evolve in the most unpredictable ways.

Which, now that I think about it, might the subtext of my FOOD: Talking The Talk theme.  That is, all the words I’ve picked here have morphed, for reasons varied, into meaning something more than their literal definitions, which for me, a wordsmith + foodie, is worthy of note.

And it is a perfect thought on which to end this 2016 A To Z Challenge.

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Thanks everyone for stopping by to read and comment.  I appreciate you taking the time to be here as I did something I wasn’t sure that I could do. I guess, after all my doubts, my challenge turned out to be better, rather than worse.

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PLEASE NOTE: next week I’ll reflect upon this blogging adventure, using the sayings that didn’t make the cut.  You’re going to like it.  😉

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50 thoughts on “Z Is For Zwieback, A Good Way To End”

  2. An excellent ending Ms Bean. I really did enjoy your month of witty phrases and proverbs and the way you connected them to food. Who knew or even considered there were so many that fit your theme. Plus I learned a lot. Congratulations on coming up with such a fine Z and for finishing the challenge in style.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Zazamataz, thank you! If I hadn’t had a file already started with these sayings before I began the challenge, I wouldn’t have been able to do this. But finally using the contents of that file for something, has felt good. I like information, so why not pass it on? Thanks for stopping by to comment so often, btw. You’re the best.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Doh. Trying to do this one handed on the phone is tricky…

      Love mash etc. I think my favourite might be the one with Captain Tuttle.

      Just two questions. What’s a zwieback? What’s bosco?

      Liked by 1 person

      • @breakerofthings, there are links if you click on the words in the quote.

        HOWEVER, because you asked nicely and you’re struggling with your phone…

        1) zwieback is a double-baked cookie of German origin, often given to teething babies (think Italian biscotti without good PR); &

        2) Bosco is a name-brand chocolate-flavored syrup that’s added to milk (think Hershey’s Syrup).

        Both products are old-fashioned but make sense in the context of the Korean War.

        Liked by 1 person

    • Deb, you have no idea how accurate your comment is going to be. There’s been all sorts of Other Stuff going on behind the scenes here at The Spectacled Bean– and I’m really tired on all fronts. Thanks for reading along and commenting. I appreciate your interest.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I’ve never heard this one. It’s very descriptive though. And you have been so educational this month!

    Congrats on making it through to the end. I’m looking forward to the ones that didn’t make it, but I’ve had so much fun learning about the various phrases. English is weird.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. So happy I found your blog. I have so enjoyed your daily posts during this challenge. This Z one is great. Wish I knew it when I worked in last job- I really couldn’t dunk my zwieback in my Bosco back then.

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  12. Still love that show all these years later.

    I don’t recall that particular line, but it’s apt. And I have to confess to snacking on a few zwieback toasts in my day when the boys were babies. They were actually quite good– a bit buttery with a hint of vanilla! One for them–one for me.

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    • nance, I like M*A*S*H and occasionally see the reruns around. This line, which stayed with me, I’ve heard/read other people say, too. I don’t think I’ve had any zwieback… at least since I was a baby. 🙂

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    • bitsfromheaven, thank you! I hoped when I started this that I’d be able to be informative + entertaining, not pedantic. So happy that you found this to be fun. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Tamara, it’s a goofy saying, but it does get to the reality of some relationships. Happy to have met you along the way. Happy to be finished with this challenge. 😉

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  17. This is a new one for me – and I was a big M*A*S*H fan. Radar was my favourite character too 🙂

    Congratulations on completing the A-Z. I’ve enjoyed the journey with you 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • joanne, thank you. I adored Radar and somehow remembered this line. I’ve heard it said, but it’s rather obscure. Yet it does get to a certain reality, just like Radar always did on the show.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I’ve never heard this quote before, nor have I ever seen an episode of M*A*S*H (Shocking, I know). I just know of zwieback because I remember frequently checking the dictionary to see what the last entries were in alphabetical order, and it was always there in the last few words…

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    • evilsquirrel13, it’s never to late to start watching M*A*S*H! It’s a classic TV show in the true sense of that word. This quote stayed with me because I liked how smoothly it described a relationship problem. Plus, you get to say ZWIEBACK. 😉

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  19. I’ve loved reading all of your comments on your food blog. They were all very interesting and brought back some fond memories. Great job Ally! Looking forward to next week.

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    • Margaret, I know! I loved it, too. It has a timeless quality to it, even though it’s set in a specific point in time. Smart + humorous never go out of style, I guess.

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    • Stephanie, I know what you mean. I think that’s why this quote stayed with me. I’m the free spirit who dunks her zwieback in her Bosco whenever she feels like it! 😉

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