ducking for apples

[giulia3710]

I have found this phrase in a quotation by Dorothy Parker. I am afraid no context is provided at all (she just makes a pun: ducking/f******).

Could anyone tell me what that means?

Thanks

 

[AlabamaBoy]

If I am not mistaken, it is a variation of apple bobbing. I never did this in Italy, so I have no idea if anything like it exists there.

I think this whole thing is a metaphor for trying to find a man (apple) that is any good.

EDIT: From wiki: In Scotland, this may be called "dooking" i.e. ducking.

I take it back about never doing apple bobbing in Italy. We had a Halloween party but it was hosted by Americans, so I am sure it must have seemed weird to the locals.

The Spanish say something that would be like mordere la mela in Italian.

"Ducking for apples - change one letter and it's the story of my life."
- Dorothy Parker

 

[tsoapm]

I think AlabamaBoy is right, but the quotation should be provided! You can’t make a pun without context.

 

[joanvillafane]

She supposedly said, "Change one letter and it's the story of my life." Don't know if it's true or not, but it's her style.

 

[tsoapm]

We had a Halloween party but it was hosted by Americans, so I am sure it must have seemed weird to the locals.

Beh, non lo so. Da noi è un luogo comune dire che Halloween non piace in quanto una roba importata/inventata dagli americani (no offence). If most of the contemporary tradition (?) is American, I suppose it’s probably been imported to Italy too!

 

[joanvillafane]

I'm sure ducking for apples has become more or less extinct with the concerns for safety and hygiene. It sure was fun, though! (How did we survive childhood - no bicycle helmets, no seat belts, and sharing saliva at Halloween parties!)

 

[tsoapm]

Oh, come non detto allora. Magari gli italiani utilizerrebbero gli appositi guanti usa e getta che trovo nei supermercati…

 

[london calling]

Giulia, non vedo il "pun" (che non significa "battuta", significa "gioco di parole"), a meno che...........:

"Change one letter"? Non è che volesse dire fucking for apples?