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Tag: get ready

Hang On to Your Hat

Hang On to Your Hat

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Hang On to Your Hat--woman holding hat on a windy day. Puppy in foreground.Recent storms brought windy weather. As a result, you needed to hang on to your hat. You also needed to hang on to everything else around you.

To hang on to your hat means to prepare yourself.

Something is about to happen, and you want to get ready. Often, the event is unexpected and shocking. It may affect:

  • Individuals
  • Small groups
  • Large numbers of people

A similar expression tells you to hold on to your hat.

Life is full of surprises.

It frequently throws you for a loop with both pleasant and unpleasant changes. Like roller coaster rides, its twists and turns can thrill or terrify. Changes occur in:

  • Relationships
  • Employment
  • Weather
  • Health
  • World events

When life storms or trials occur, you may find it hard to hang on to your faith. 

Change throws you off balance. You struggle to understand. Yet, God uses every experience, good and bad, expected and unexpected, to help you grow.

Hang on to your hat and see where God leads.

Through even the hardest times, you may be pleasantly surprised.

“‘Where is your faith’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him’” (Luke 8:25 NIV).

Thanks to Judy Corbin for the suggestion and to Karen Atwood for the photo.

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Katy Bar the Door

Katy Bar the Door

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Katy Bar the Door: old double doors with bar across themGet ready. Beware. Katy bar the door.

My dad often used this expression if he expected trouble, such as:

  • Bad weather
  • Economic problems
  • Political unrest
  • Broken relationships

Katy (or Katie) bar the door warns of danger ahead.

A common southern expression, it tells people to be careful. They need to watch their step and prepare for hard times ahead.

If people expect someone to try to break in their house, they lock (or bar) their door. They take necessary precautions.

The origin of Katy bar the door is uncertain.

 According to The Phrase Finder, possibilities include:

  • A Scottish folk song, “Get Up and Bar the Door”
  • The attempt of Catherine Douglas to save the Scottish King James I

Whatever the origin, use caution when facing danger. 

Better safe than sorry. Take the right steps to protect against possible threats.

“The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NRSV).

Thanks to Brad Leverett for the suggestion. Image by József Kincse from Pixabay.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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Good to Go

Good to Go

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Good to Go--road leading to covered bridge“Are you ready?”

“Yes, we are good to go.”

When planning a trip, we like to hear that news.

Good to go means we are ready.

Excited to hit the trail, we have:

  • Prepared
  • Packed (but no excess baggage)
  • Repaired, if necessary
  • Checked and double-checked

Good to go includes more than travel.

It may refer to our:

  • Health (a return to good health)
  • Possessions (all work well)
  • Activities (ready to start or restart)
  • Work (complete and correct)

Sometimes good to go means ready to stay.

In recent days, we have stayed home, because of COVID-19. Several people call, text, or message to check on us. Questions usually include:

  • Are you okay?
  • Do you need anything?

Once I said, “We are good to go, or – in this case – stay.” What I meant was:

  • We were okay.
  • We did not need anything or to go anywhere.

In this life, let’s stay good to go, whether we stay or go. For the next life, let’s definitely get ready to go.

“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44 NIV).

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Fixing to

Fixing to

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Fixing to-Lake Cumberland viewMy mother, sister, cousin, and I were fixing to eat when I took this picture. We planned to enjoy both our food and this great view of Lake Cumberland.

When we are fixing to do something, we are getting ready to do it.

In the southern United States, we often say fixin’ to. However we say it, we mean we are:

  • About to begin
  • Preparing
  • Starting

We plan to do something. For example, we are fixing to:

  • Cook dinner
  • Start a new semester
  • Go shopping

Sometimes people rush us.

We have not tackled a job as soon as they think we should. They want us to get the ball rolling. When that happens, we might say, “Don’t rush me. I’m fixing to do it.” That often happens with:

  • Children doing their schoolwork
  • Teens cleaning their room
  • Husbands or wives working around the house

Are we fixing to do what matters most?

Will what we are fixing to do:

  • Make life better?
  • Help anyone?
  • Have lasting value?

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Luke 12:40 NIV).

Thanks to Carol York Patterson Brangers for the idea.

Do you have an expression you want explained or a thought about this one? If so, please comment below.

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