If it were up your ass you'd know where it was
- Thread starter filocee
- Start date
I found the expression in a movie "Prey for Rock & Roll". There is Jacky who was talking about her departed father at table with her family. Her father took her favorite bike she'd left out on the front lawn. That is the expression her father said to her crying for her bike.
Dad used the subjunctive? 
I think of it as a rude "Tough luck, you stupid, careless fool!" sort of expression that means you should keep a closer watch on your things -- and too bad for you that you didn't, so quit crying. I guess you can also imagine it as, "If I kicked it up your ass, you'd know what it was." I prefer not thinking too much past that.
You can take a look at some of these 70 Google results to get an, um, feel for the phrase. I searched using a wildcard (*) for "were."
I think of it as a rude "Tough luck, you stupid, careless fool!" sort of expression that means you should keep a closer watch on your things -- and too bad for you that you didn't, so quit crying. I guess you can also imagine it as, "If I kicked it up your ass, you'd know what it was." I prefer not thinking too much past that.You can take a look at some of these 70 Google results to get an, um, feel for the phrase. I searched using a wildcard (*) for "were."
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Are you sure it wasn't "you'd know where it was"? "It" because it's a bicycle, not a person.
The bike was a thing that looks like a pony which she called Lucky.
It is a form of scolding, but note (I believe) this to be atypical of parenting in general in the USA (but perhaps I was brought up in a sheltered environment).
It sounds like something my father used to say. If I lost something, he would say some version of "if I shoved it up your ass you wouldn't lose it." In other words, stop losing things or you will be painfully punished, in such a way that you can't be careless any more.
No, I don't think it's typical. My dad had issues.
No, I don't think it's typical. My dad had issues.
It sounds like something my father used to say. If I lost something, he would say some version of "if I shoved it up your ass you wouldn't lose it." In other words, stop losing things or you will be painfully punished, in such a way that you can't be careless any more.
No, I don't think it's typical. My dad had issues.
Thank you. It was a very helpful comment.
It's a crude way of telling Jacky that she is either irresponsible or forgetful. She can't or doesn't keep track of or take proper care of her bike. Only if it were "up her ass" (inserted into her rectum) would she know where it is. It's a variant of expressions like, "If your head [or some other body part] weren't attached to your body, you'd lose that too."
The latter can be a humorous remark about forgetfulness, and one might even say it about oneself ("If my head weren't already attached to my body, I'd lose that too"), but in the cited instance, it is a suggestion that the person is willfully irresponsible.
The latter can be a humorous remark about forgetfulness, and one might even say it about oneself ("If my head weren't already attached to my body, I'd lose that too"), but in the cited instance, it is a suggestion that the person is willfully irresponsible.
It sounds like Jacky's father has died. (departed) He took her bike away from her before he died?
Who's Jacky looking for? Her dad or Lucky, her pony/bike?
I guess no matter who/what, she'd know if it were up her ass.