Would you touch it with a 10 foot pole? / myLot

Canada

November 28, 2015 11:31pm CST

What does the saying "I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole mean? Where did it originate from? Well there are many explanations but I like the interpretation I got from my guide which I thought sounded more plausible. I went on a Cemetery tour in New Orleans today as part of a larger tour. The cemeteries in New Orleans are made up of mausoleums. They are grand structures all above ground made of marble and other materials, and a sight to behold. According to our guide, after a sizzling hot summer in the mausoleum, a corpse was so badly decayed that a 10 foot pole was used to push the decomposed remains down a pit in the mausoleum so that a newly dead body could be placed inside and hence the term 'I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole".Of course he also said that people in New Orleans have a way of claiming sayings originating elsewhere as their own. What is your interpretation?

8 people like this

7 responses

celticeagle

@celticeagle (170740)

• Boise, Idaho

29 Nov 15

It seems to be all about barge poles. Not sure but they don't use them anymore in the UK. I like your story better.

3 people like this

Joanie

@Freelanzer (10743)

• Canada

29 Nov 15

Yes I thought it was a good story, even if just a myth

1 person likes this

celticeagle

@celticeagle (170740)

• Boise, Idaho

29 Nov 15

@Freelanzer ...and being from New Orleans helped too.

Boingboing

@boiboing (13153)

• Northampton, England

29 Nov 15

I always thought it was a canal term as we sometimes say 'i wouldn't touch it with a barge pole'

2 people like this

Joanie

@Freelanzer (10743)

• Canada

29 Nov 15

I guess there are many thought s on origin of the term I just found his funny.

scheng1

@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

6 Dec 15

I think that is a very likely explanation. If we were to visit Europe, we can visit many such old cemeteries, where bodies were thrown in for generations. It sure seems very terrible by modern standard.

Bluedoll

@Bluedoll (16773)

• Canada

29 Nov 15

Never knew where it came from just took it as to mean don't touch that open paint can on the top of latter with your roller.

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61101)

• United States

29 Nov 15

I have to admit that I have taken that cemetery tour and that was not said to us , as a matter of fact I don't think it was ever said to us on any tour. I looked it up and it seems to refer to river barges which actually makes more sense to me lol tour guides can get quite creative.

1 person likes this

Joanie

@Freelanzer (10743)

• Canada

29 Nov 15

I thought it was quite funny and I kinda like the interpretation.We had the best tour guide I think and yes he was quite creative which made it more fun. Actually I did look it up online after the tour and there is a reference to exactly what he said.

1 person likes this

Toto

@totobasso (331)

• Canada

8 Dec 15

I don't know where the saying originated but your explanation is a good one. There are some things that are better kept at a distance, like a poisonous snake.

1 person likes this

Joanie

@Freelanzer (10743)

• Canada

8 Dec 15

Yes you would sure need a 10 foot pole for poisonous snakes

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (345064)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 15

That sounds logical. I've heard 'wouldn't touch it with a barge pole' - which I guess is about 10 feet long too.