If You Can't Say It, Abbreviate It

There are just so many times when we want to say something, but it’s just not the time, nor the place (much less the audience) for the words to come out raw and unedited. So we abbreviate. If I can remember, I’ll try to see just how often we do it in regular use; it’s probably more than we think.

I saw a photo of a sign near a dock. Can’t remember the exact wording, but it was about seagulls and ended with the warning that they would “S.O.Y.” If you can’t figure that one out, think of what it’s like to walk under a flock of seagulls and think of what will inevitably happen. Yes, one or more of them will S.O.Y. I’ve seen it happen. Mom always used the name of a popular shampoo, “White Rain,” when she saw it happening, followed by “It’s a good thing cows don’t fly.”

Ambulance attendants have their own language. “LOL in NAD” is one set of letters they use to indicate “Little Old Lady in No Apparent Distress.” Sometimes you just need a little reassurance.

My favorite is “BFD,” for “Big Deal.” While you can’t use it in church, the kids don’t get it, the old folks won’t catch on and be offended and it accurately reflects a certain degree of disdain.

“SOL” is another of those, used to indicate that you just don’t have any options left. Well, it’s more than just “no options”; it’s “up the creek and no options.” It’s how we all are at one time or another. Just SOL when people SOY.