What do collocations and similes have to do with downsizing, you ask?

Good question.

Collocations are words or phrases we put together naturally when we speak the language. For example, a native English speaker will say “It’s not a big deal” but never “It’s not a large deal.” It’s the same with similes. We’ll say “strong as a bull” but not “strong like a bull.”

Which doesn’t have much to do with downsizing other than Winston Churchill once said:

Broadly speaking, the short words are best and the old words best of all.

And when you use short, old words a lot, you get the kind of well-worn clichés that John Prine uses to great effect in It’s a Big Old Goofy World.

A tenuous connection to downsizing perhaps but a great excuse to show some images that came to mind while I was listening to the song one rainy day. (It all makes much more sense if you click play on the video first, and then scroll along.)

Enjoy.

Work like a dog

Like a bump on a log

Mind all your manners

Be quiet as a mouse

As big as a house

Eats like a horse

Knocks his old balls

Round the old golf course

Cute little dish

Smokes like a chimney

Drinks like a fish

There’s a big old goofy man dancin’ with a big old goofy girl…

… Oooh, baby, it’s a big old goofy world”

A head like a rock

Made my knees knock

Sing like an angel

Eat like a bird

Know every single word

“There’s a big old goofy man… 

.. dancin’ with a big old goofy girl…

 … Oooh, baby, it’s a big old goofy world”

(musical interlude – wait for it!)

Kiss a little baby

Give the world a smile

If you take an inch

Give ’em back a mile

Lie like a rug

Don’t give a damn

Happy as a clam

Head is just as empty

As the day is long

Clear as a bell

Wise as an owl

Stubborn as a mule

There’s a big old goofy man…

…dancin’ with a big goofy girl

Ooh, baby, it’s a big old goofy world.