thin as a yard of pump water

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English

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Etymology

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A stream of water falling approximately three feet from a water pump into a bucket is both straight and thin.

Adjective

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thin as a yard of pump water (not comparable)

  1. (US, UK, dialectal) Very thin (skinny).
    • 1947, Lynn Doyle, Green Oranges: Stories:
      Her mother was betwixt and between, and her father the same; but Rosie was as thin as a yard of pump-water, and could—and did—eat like a beagle without ever putting-on an extra ounce. Maybe she was abusing her good-fortune.
    • 1965, Publications of the Folk-lore Society:
      She wadn't no summer morning to look at, poor soul, and her mistress kept her so thin as a yard of pump water. But there Providence knows best! There were a old fellow over by Aisholt, and he were such a upstanding courageous man he'd a []
    • 1968, Katharine M. Briggs, Folktales of England, University of Chicago Press, →ISBN, page 74:
      [] managed, but they all went on looking so thin as a yard of pump water except Dicky — and he grew fat.
    • 2014, Daniel P Mannix, Freaks: We Who Are Not As Others, eNet Press, →ISBN, page 139:
      [] puts away enough food to satiate a pack of ravenous hyenas and remains as thin as a yard of pump water. It's the injustice of the whole thing that infuriates me.
    • 2018, Gloria Cook, Never Just a Memory, Canelo, →ISBN:
      'Mmm. You're as pale as a lily and as thin as a yard of pump water. Mind you, a month or two out working in all weathers should pink you up, and rationing or no, I'll find something to put a bit of weight on you.'

References

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