The Big Apple: “Serious as a snake bite” ("Serious as a snakebite")

A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.

Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.

Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.

This site is edited by Barry Popik.

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Entry from August 07, 2010

“Serious as a snake bite” ("Serious as a snakebite")

"Serious as a snake bite” (or “serious as a snakebite") means very serious, indeed. A snake bite could cause serious illness or death—and Texas has plenty of snakes.

The phrase “serious as a snakebite” has been cited as a Texas expression by at least 1996.

25 February 1996, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Piney Woods history buffs talk Texan” by Kent Biffle:
Some Texas expressions are plain foolishness. Others are serious as a snakebite.

13 December 1996, Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram, “Cowboy Kudos,” pg. 8:
Congratulations, Cowboy. When we say you deserved to lasso the award, we’re serious as a snake bite.

Google Books
One tough Texan
By M. J. Rodgers
Toronto: Harlequin Books
1997
Pg. 148:
“You’re not serious.”
“Just as serious as a snake bite.”

Google Groups: alt.support.tall
Newsgroups: alt.support.tall
From: Margaret
Date: 1999/09/30
Subject: Re: Incredible shrinking bathrobe

Linda, I was ‘serious as a snakebite’, as they say in West Texas!

Posted by Barry Popik
Texas (Lone Star State Dictionary) • (0) Comments • Saturday, August 07, 2010 • Permalink