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 aldiboronti |
Little red wagon |
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Posts: 8497 (04/06/04 09:38:58) |
I may be dreaming this, but I'm pretty sure I've heard characters say in US movies, "That fixed his little red wagon!", meaning, That put a spoke in his wheels.
If indeed it has any substance outside my head, what's the origin/date? |
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Faldage |
Re: Little red wagon | ||
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Posts: 2176 (04/06/04 09:50:45) |
I couldn't say whether it means 'put a spoke in his wheels' but in plain English it means 'use punitive measures on him'.
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Dr Techie |
Re: Little red wagon | ||
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Posts: 9773 (04/06/04 09:55:11) |
It's an elaborated form of "fixed his wagon" that is used occasionally. I think it provides a suggestion that the person whose wagon was "fixed" is childish or ineffectual. A popular childhood toy in the US is/was a red hand-pulled wagon, such as shown here:
 "To fix someone's wagon" is cited back to 1951 in the OED2; there are no cites for the "little red" version, but I have heard it before. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on "punitive"; while it's sometimes used to describe retribution, I think the OED2's definition is a good one: " to bring about (a person's) downfall, to spoil (his) chances of success." |
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ElizaD |
Re: Little red wagon | ||
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Posts: 5686 (04/06/04 10:03:03) |
Ah, such childhood memories. And such assertiveness training we little girls had when we encouraged the boys to push us all round the garden in their little carts.
Unfortunately, once they realized they'd been conned, they literally dumped us. That, too, has proved to be a salutary lesson. Never allow yourself to be pushed too far. |
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ozziemaland |
Re: Little red wagon | ||
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Posts: 5545 (04/06/04 14:24:01) |
I for one did have the "Radio Flyer" red wagon as a kid, along with most of my friends. The brand name was virtually eponymous for the wagon itself. From the website, www.radioflyer.com
America's Dream Factory For Over 85 Years Like the Original Red Wagon that lent the company its name, Radio Flyer Inc. has become an American Classic. |
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