Rubes by Leigh Rubin for November 09, 2021

It ought to be a real hoot

This got me wondering about the origin of the phrase. Two main ideas were featured. While both agree that the phrase originated in the mid to late 1800’s, they vary in content.

1. Meant as ironic or sarcastic, meaning not fun at all. (The game Barrel of monkeys is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.)

2. Attributed to their playful nature. (Yeah, right. I am inclined to believe the first one.)

♫♪ Roll out the barrels, we’ll have two barrels of fun! ♪♫

I prefer barrels of a different kind. The kind filled with all sorts of sweet exotic fruit-tasting liquid

I bet it was REALLY fun getting all those monkeys in a barrel and getting the lid on

Doordash.

But wouldn’t that old “expression” still apply if they each took just one barrel?

I would think they’d prefer a barrel of gnus.

Simba simians