So if you told some one that you were going to be there w/bells on it meant you would (hope to) have a trouble-free trip. broken wheel, or stuck in the mud & another teamster helped them out the driver in distress would surrender one of his bell archers to the good samaritan. when Conestoga Wagons were the '18 wheelers of the day,the drivers had iron arches w/brass bells affixed to their horses collars to warn others on the roads of their aproach & if a wagon had problem on the road i.e. If you've ever wondered about the origins of the saying, ' I'll be there w/bells on', wonder no longer-it seems that in the early history of the U.S.
Mom always told me that I'd forget my head if it weren't tied on', or 'that my forgetter worked better than my rememberer'.also that, 'mothers have eyes in the backs of thier heads'.
The Pig Latin version 'enway igspay iflay' is one of my favorites! Also 'heavens to murgatroid', 'nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockin chairs' (with thanks to 'The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show') and, 'well I'll be a blue-nosed gopher'.
