Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?

[Jonathan Williams]

Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?

Any idea?

[G B]

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

Not from Numero Uno; He hasn't got any brain power to think laterally.
All he knows is how to swear on a public newsgroup and bully anybody
asking questions about Linux.

[DecadentLinuxUserNumeroUno]

Post by G B

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

Not from Numero Uno; He hasn't got any brain power to think laterally.
All he knows is how to swear on a public newsgroup and bully anybody
asking questions about Linux.

The phrase is a condescending remark.

A crybaby idiot like you should think I'd know al about it. Both
Linux and such terms. Ooops.

[Henry Crun]

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

Only one I found:
http://www.internetslang.com/SAP-meaning-definition.asp

[Marek Novotny]

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

( n ) A stupid person. If it looks too good to be true, it isn't.
1920s

http://www.alphadictionary.com/slang/S.html

[Bud Frede]

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

I know what it means, but not how it came to mean that.

A sap or cosh was a powdered lead-filled piece of leather used to knock
people out. They were carried by both police and criminals. (I assume
they still are.)

I had an uncle who used to say things like, "He's such a knothead that
you could tap him and let the sap run out." I doubt that's where this
came from though. :-)

[Marek Novotny]

Post by Bud Frede

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

I know what it means, but not how it came to mean that.
A sap or cosh was a powdered lead-filled piece of leather used to knock
people out. They were carried by both police and criminals. (I assume
they still are.)
I had an uncle who used to say things like, "He's such a knothead that
you could tap him and let the sap run out." I doubt that's where this
came from though. :-)

Maybe ask that cutie on HotForWords on YouTube.

[DecadentLinuxUserNumeroUno]

On Fri, 31 Oct 2014 05:15:33 +0000 (UTC), Jonathan Williams

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

"You old sap" comes to mind. Source that, you old sap.

Probably English rooted. 18th or 19th century.

[Mike Yetto]

While walking through the streets of Soho in the rain

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

King Syndicates cartoons. Specifically, Popeye the Sailor.

Mike "or 1930's Hollywood film noir movies" Yetto

[Madlove]

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

In my experience it usually comes from family members...

[andrew]

Post by Madlove

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

In my experience it usually comes from family members...

I have a long day in front of me, thanks for making me laugh at the very
start of it :)

Andrew

[DecadentLinuxUserNumeroUno]

Post by andrew

Post by Madlove

Post by Jonathan Williams
Where does the condescending term "don't be a sap" come from?
Any idea?

In my experience it usually comes from family members...

I have a long day in front of me, thanks for making me laugh at the very
start of it :)
Andrew

Ummm... I think 'family members' is how one 'got that way', not how
one experiences being referred to as such.

Just a small, minor nit-pick. Should be even more humorous now.