pumpkin

My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pumpkins

A mnemonic device for remembering the names of the eight planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as the dwarf planet Pluto. (The phrase was in use before Pluto had ceased to be considered a true planet.) A: "Let's see, there's Mercury, um… Earth, Mars… Uranus… dang, I can never remember all the planets' names!" B: "Well, just try to remember this—My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pumpkins." A: "Hey, Pluto isn't a planet anymore!"

See also: eager, just, mother, nine, Pumpkin, Serve, very

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pumpkins

A mnemonic device for remembering the names of the eight planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, as well as the dwarf planet Pluto. (The phrase was in use before Pluto had ceased to be considered a true planet.) A: "Let's see, there's Mercury, um… Earth, Mars… Uranus… dang, I can never remember all the planets' names!" B: "Well, try to remember this—My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pumpkins." A: "Hey, Pluto isn't a planet anymore!"

See also: educated, just, mother, nine, Pumpkin, Serve, very

pumpkin head

1. A dim-witted or unintelligent person; a dolt. Why did I ever hire that pumpkin head? He can't do anything right around here.

2. prison slang A prisoner who has been beaten severely about the face and head; such an attack itself. (So called due to the swelling of the head that results.) No one went near the pumpkin head after his beating from one of the prison gangs, which had served as a warning to the other inmates. Whatever fellow prisoners might do to you, it's the guards you have to look out for. They're very fond of giving a pumpkin head to anyone to who steps out of line.

See also: head, pumpkin

some pumpkins

dated Someone or something that is particularly great, special, wonderful, etc. Did you see Tracey's new car? Boy, it's some pumpkins, huh? I've stated seeing this amazing guy from Belgium. He's some pumpkins!

See also: pumpkin

turn into a pumpkin

To have to return home or go to bed due to the late hour of the night. (Usually used as a present participle, the phrase is a reference to the story of Cinderella, whose magic carriage turned into a pumpkin at midnight.) I've had a wonderful time, but I'm turning into a pumpkin. I think I'll call a cab and head home.

See also: pumpkin, turn

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

some pumpkins

 and some punkins

someone or something great or special. (Old.) That chick is some punk-ins! Isn't this little gadget really some pumpkins?

See also: pumpkin

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

some pumpkins

and some punkins

n. someone or something great or special. That chick is some punkins!

See also: pumpkin

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.