"Pasta" and others

Is it just me or is there a movement afoot? Meanings to words that have nothing to do with the words themselves or only in the broadest sense or in the metaphorical sense. Is there a dictionary for this movement.

Some examples :
At a first meeting everyone drinks coffee. Its coffee this and coffee that, Ok there's the phrase "smell the coffee" but is there something more to it than that?

Pasta - it's got something to do with relationships hasn't it? Why do relationships (of a romantic nature) start with pasta? What is this association with pasta?

Orange - Seems to have something to do with giving / providing. Is this because it is a source of juice? Or maybe Vitamin C?

Hair - Well, surely everyone knows about hair by now. Short hair, long hair, blonde hair, cropped hair, black hair or other. Is there a dictionary for this?

Nails - short nails or long ones? Is this something to do with success?

Houses - Am I going mad or are people comparing themselves to their house these days?

What do you know about this being the world of language and literature? What should I read to get up to speed with this? If you can shed any light I will be most grateful.

[RonBee]

The phrase I am familiar with is Wake up and smell the coffee. It means something like pay attention to what is going on around you.

The others don't ring a bell.

:)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by A Nesbitt

Is it just me or is there a movement afoot? Meanings to words that have nothing to do with the words themselves or only in the broadest sense or in the metaphorical sense. Is there a dictionary for this movement.

Our language is growing like never before. Sadly, it is mostly growing in the slang field.

Some examples :
At a first meeting everyone drinks coffee. Its coffee this and coffee that, Ok there's the phrase "smell the coffee" but is there something more to it than that?

Coffee in the US is like tea in the UK. It is often used as an alcohol-free social lubricant. :wink:

Pasta - it's got something to do with relationships hasn't it? Why do relationships (of a romantic nature) start with pasta? What is this association with pasta?

I can only associate this with dark,candle-lit, romantic Italian restaurants. I don't think its about the menu.

Orange - Seems to have something to do with giving / providing. Is this because it is a source of juice? Or maybe Vitamin C?

No clue here.

Hair - Well, surely everyone knows about hair by now. Short hair, long hair, blonde hair, cropped hair, black hair or other. Is there a dictionary for this?

A dictionary of hair?

Nails - short nails or long ones? Is this something to do with success?

This may relate to working. Working people often have to keep their nails short. Women of leisure can raise long nails. 8)

Houses - Am I going mad or are people comparing themselves to their house these days?

I'm a ranch; you're a colonial?

[Tdol]

Short nails are also supposed to suggest that a woman is a lesbian.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by tdol

Short nails are also supposed to suggest that a woman is a lesbian.

[Tdol]

BTW, what's this about an alcohol-free social lubricant in the UK?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by tdol

BTW, what's this about an alcohol-free social lubricant in the UK?

Cute phrase, eh? 8)

[Tdol]