grow hair on a cross-cut saw

[kadzeno]

Dear Everybody

Comments

[infrogmation]

I think it's just a humorous phrase noting something would grow where one would think it could never grow; it promotes growing amazingly. Parts of the U.S. south and south-west are fond of such exaggerated expressions.

The phrase is used in Wilson Rawls' 1961 book Where the Red Fern Grows. I don't know if Rawls originated it.

More common variations are "grow hair on a cue ball" (or "billiard ball").

[kadzeno]

Actually WTRFG is the source of where I've taken the phrase. Yep, I figured out that was an author's hyperbola, though still doubt about the adequate and elegant way of paraphrasing it in terms of translation.

[fmsv]

I can't tell whether it was intentional or not, but assuming you meant the figure of speech, I think the word you meant was "hyperbole". A hyperbola is something totally different.

[thawing_wind]

Intresting, that in my native tongue it's one word with two different meanings.:)

[aindreas]

I've never heard that particular expression, but it reminds me of phrases like "he could sell ice to an eskimo." I'm sure there are dozens of sayings like this, suggesting that the impossible is being accomplished through a hyperbolic theoretical scenario. But I think people often invent their own or tweak other idioms to suit the occasion.

[kadzeno]

So did I adjusting it to the context and replacing the phrase for sth like 'corn will start to grow at only thought of sowing' or so.

[aindreas]

Sorry to be harsh, but what you've just written is a bit unintelligible. I'm having a hard time figuring out what you're trying to say. Are you asking if "corn will start to grow at only thought of sowing" is an explanation or paraphrasing of the expression "to grow hair on a cross-cut saw"? Is the former phrase said in your native language? I can't really think of any contexts in English where you would use that kind of analogy. But perhaps it's a similar idea.

[kadzeno]

Yes, it is, a kind of, and yes, it is how it sounds in Russian, though I admit that this can be misunderstood by a native speaker. Then how would you express it in your language so it could be authentic or easily interpreted as conveying the same content of the original one?