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hifigecko
#53198 Tue, 02 Nov 04 10:05 AM
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I just wondering what does "great balls of fire" mean in idioms? I'd be appreciate if anyone could tell me!
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Joined on
Tue, Nov 2 2004
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nona the brit
#53207 Tue, 02 Nov 04 11:18 AM
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I don't think it is really an idiom. It is a line from a rock and roll song, 'Goodness Gracious! Great Balls of Fire! Quite what it means is anyone's guess.
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Joined on
Wed, Sep 22 2004
England
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The name says it all.
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hifigecko
#53572 Thu, 04 Nov 04 11:23 AM
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Thanks! But I had seen it been said several times in movies!
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nona the brit
#53581 Thu, 04 Nov 04 01:44 PM
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Perhaps they are just quoting the song. It has become a sort of comedy exclamation.
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MrPedantic
#53593 Thu, 04 Nov 04 02:24 PM
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Hello Gecks
I'd agree with Nona. I think the 'balls' aspect now predominates.
The phrase does seem to have an interesting history, though. In a scene in
'Gone with the Wind' (1939), set during the American Civil War, Scarlett O'Hara
(to the horror of Mammy) proposes making a new dress from the portières
(= curtains). "Not out of Miss Ellen's portières!" protests Mammy. "Not while
I've got breath in my body!" To which Scarlett replies: "Great balls of fire!
They're my portières now!"
Various 'GWTW' fansites suggest that GBOF is an authentic southern US phrase
(like 'fiddle-dee-dee!'), from around the time of the Civil War (1861-5). It seems to
follow the pattern of other ejaculations, e.g. 'Great Scott!' 'Great Heavens!' etc. I
wonder whether it's a reference to St Elmo's fire, or to ball lightning (Merriam-Webster:
"a rare form of lightning consisting of luminous balls that may move along solid objects or
float in the air").
Or perhaps as there's an Apocalyptic reference hidden in there somewhere - though I
can't find a reference to 'balls of fire' in the Old or New Testaments. Maybe someone else
would know.
Regarding Jerry Lee Lewis, some websites suggest that the song relates to his impending
marriage to his cousin:
I cut my nails and I quiver my thumb
I'm real nervous 'cause it sure is fun
Come on baby, you drive me crazy
Goodness gracious great balls of fire...
If this isn't an innuendo, it's certainly a good imitation of one. Just what 'quiver my thumb'
means is anybody's guess. But the song was written by Otis Blackwell, so the most we
can probably say is that the song had 'resonance' for JLL at that time...
Interesting to note that the song was released (1957) during the big UFO panics of the
1950s, when 'balls of fire' (sic) were regularly reported in US airspace. (Billy Lee
Riley's second release for Sun Records, shortly before JLL's hit, was
'Flying Saucers Rock 'n' Roll'.)
MrP
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Joined on
Tue, Oct 12 2004
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...opella forensis / adducit febris...
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