Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Off Topic Don't Tug On Superman's Cape - Origin of Expressions

I've always been fascinated by the origins of expressions. Someone's stealing your thunder ? Well, did you know back in 1709, someone really did steal someone's thunder?

I like wandering around World Wide Words , which is a site that explains "international English from a British viewpoint." A lot of common words and expressions are thoroughly explained there.

Earlier, I was skimming through some threads on the boards, and I came across a question Sileas asked in the final feedback folder for her story, Steel Knights:

If you look back at the episode titles for L&C, you'll find that some of them are quite clever. For example, try and wrap your head around "Tempus Fugitive" when you know that tempus fugit means "time flies" in Latin.

Now, as for "Don't Tug On Superman's Cape", it's something I've always heard, but I never knew where it really came from. And after a bit of light googling, I still don't.

I'd always heard this as "Three Tips To Live By" or some variation thereof.

Don't tug on Superman's cape.
Don't spit into the wind.
Don't eat yellow snow.

A Google search turned up this song by Jim Croce - You Don\'t Mess Around With Jim . It was a big hit in 1972 (in America ). His version goes a little different:

Now, the real question is, who are "they"? 100 bonus points to whoever can tell me.

Anyway, I'm assuming we're all supposed to avoid tugging on Superman's cape so we don't tick him off.

Does any one have any other good sites to share?

Sara

There was also a reference to that Jim Croce song in Man of Steel Bars. The inmate in the cell with Superman was harassing him, stepping on his foot and "tugging on his cape". After Superman ducked out of the way of the punch and Inmate #2 got hit instead, the guys in the other cell muttered, "He messed with Jim".

Kathy

The whole jail scene in Heatwave was based on the song. If you remember the guy that got Superman arrested for immediately disobeying the injunction was in the same cell. He goes through this whole list of things to annoy him. "I'm slapping Superman, I'm stepping on his foot, I'm tugging on Superman's cape." Then when he tries to punch him Superman ducks and he hits another prisoner - who happens to be named Jim. All the other prisoners then say - oh you don't mess with Jim.

In the song it is just a play on words - or things you'll do that will backfire on you. Like if you spit into the wind the wind will blow the spit back in your face.

I love sites like this; I'm forever wondering where that word or phrase came from. Thanks for the link, Sara!

I especially love the little errors box:



LabRat (who really shouldn't be exploring this site at all but should be working on things like stories and music vids...and Archive uploads... :rolleyes: )

Wait, you mean Jim Croce didn't come up with "Don't tug on Superman's cape" just as part of his song?

Really, I have no idea. I'd always figured he was the one that invented that phrase. Who knew...

Lynn

*looks down shirt* OI! I'm a GURL!

Thanks Kmar and Kathy! Always fun to find out little tidbits like that.

Sorry, Lab, should have posted a warning with that link: Major Procrastination Tool

Lynn... I'm still not clear. I have no clue if it was Croce who invented that or not. I'm actually betting that he was the one to come up with it, seeing as I can't find anything else to tie to the phrase(s).

Sileas... I'm sorry! I think it was because CC Aiken wrote a story in which there was a "Silas Kent" and... yeah, my mental image was male.

Sara

Interesting site, Sara! Thank you! I've always been interested in linguistics of all sorts.

See ya,
AnnaBtG.

Wow interseting. I wish Jim was still around to ask. He was a great! He died way too young. Laura