Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Etymology
  5. / Phrase Origins

by AnswerAsh on November 27th, 2005

AnswerAsh

Question

Help answer this question below.

What is the meaning of the phrase "I see said the blind man to the deaf man" and when would you use it?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by mike blair on December 4th, 2005

    mike blair

    The more poular, well known version of this is "I see, said the blind man, to his deaf dog, and he picked up his hammer and saw"

    This is an example of a Wellerism. Wellerisms got their name from the Charles Dickens' "The Pickwick Papers." Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick's good-natured servant, and his father had a habit of following a well-known saying or phrase with some kind of phrase that implied humor, irony, or a pun.

    In this circumstance, the phrase "i see" has a double meaning, in that by "I see" , the blind man doesn't "see" anything with his eyes, but rather simply means "I understand". The extra bit about saying something (whether it is directed at his deaf dog, wife, daughter, brother, man, etc) to one who is deaf, is pointless and adds a little humor to the phrase. The other bit on the end is just more of the same "As he picked up his hammer and saw" wouldn't be nearly as funny if it were stated "as he picked up his hammer and cutting tool"

    These "wellerisms" were quite popular years ago, and have been around for 150 years, as have been another variant of the wellerism, the Tom Swifty. Here's some examples of Tom Swifties:

    "I need a pencil sharpener," said Tom bluntly.
    "Oops! There goes my hat!" said Tom off the top of his head.
    "I have a split personality," said Tom, being frank.
    "This must be an aerobics class," Tom worked out.

    Comments

    • Fun and amusing answer! Many layers to this, Lyn replied!!!!!

      LynfromNM

      by LynfromNM on January 29th, 2006

    • "I see" said the blind man, peeing into the wind, "It's all coming back to me now"

      go_to_hellas

      by go_to_hellas on January 30th, 2006

    • "I see", said the blind man to the deaf man who didn't respond."

      philosopher-saint

      by philosopher-saint on March 15th, 2008

    • UHHH dude you cant be more wrong..actually its a joke. an actual JOKE.

      Lbc

      by Lbc on June 19th, 2008

    • Ohhhhhh! After reading all the other answers I STILL couldn't get it lol. I get it now. The hammer and saw thing was confusing, but it's meant to be "saw" as in "seen", not saw as in the tool saw. What a blank moment...

      Blackberry.

      by Blackberry. on December 30th, 2008

    • Sheeet! We *all* have 'em, guy!
      ;-)

      philosopher-saint

      by philosopher-saint on December 30th, 2008

    • Yeah, that's what I like about the internet, if that happened in front of people, I would have to see everyone's "Are you retarded?" expressions appear on their faces lol.

      Blackberry.

      by Blackberry. on December 30th, 2008

    • I know exactly what you mean, Blackberry! For these 'less than fully real' internet interactions, there are some redeeming trade-offs, fer sure!
      ;-)

      philosopher-saint

      by philosopher-saint on December 30th, 2008

    • Like
    • Report

    8 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading What is the meaning of the phrase "I see said the blind man to the deaf man" and when would you use it?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company