One hundred and ten in the water-bag
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (351591)
Rockingham, Australia
March 24, 2025 10:17pm CST
We have had a run of really hot weather again and it’s set to continue for the week. It brought to mind another saying which I’d like to assume was best known in Australia. But we all know what happens when we assume stuff so I’ll just put it out there and see what happens.
This phrase might be uttered when it’s really, really hot. Australians might say of a hot day ‘It was 110 [F] in the water-bag’. Years ago, water-bags were made of hessian. Once the bags were filled with water and became wet, they retained the water. When hung under a verandah or on a tree limb, the damp hessian would keep the water surprisingly cool through evaporation. They were also commonly seen attached to the kangaroo bar of cars.
The water would sometimes have a slightly different taste but if it was hot and you were thirsty, it didn’t matter too much.
So ‘110 in the water-bag’. Have you heard of it?
The photo is courtesy of sv1ambo, via Wikimedia Commons
20 people like this
19 responses
It's about time, right?
@DaddyEvil (146522)
• United States
25 Mar
No, I've never heard that saying...
By the way, what's a "kangaroo bar" on a car?
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (146522)
• United States
25 Mar
@JudyEv Yes, thank you. I know what a winch bar is.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (188336)
• United States
25 Mar
I have not. Most of your sayings there is something similar or the same here, but not that.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (351591)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Mar
For some reason, it sounds very Australian. I guess I've never heard of water-bags in any of the old Westerns I've read.
@RebeccasFarm (94137)
• Arvada, Colorado
25 Mar
I never have and the roo is cute on it.
The thought of drinking hot water in the heat is gross to me, but yeah, if one is thirsty, then it would have to do.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (52260)
• United States
25 Mar
I don’t remember ever hearing this one.
2 people like this
@xander6464 (45030)
• Wapello, Iowa
25 Mar
Out of context, ‘110 in the water-bag’ sounds a little obscene. I like it.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (45030)
• Wapello, Iowa
28 Mar
@JudyEv I think that's why God sent me here. To point out things like that.
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@1creekgirl (43368)
• United States
25 Mar
No, but it's a really cool expression!
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@Fleura (31506)
• United Kingdom
25 Mar
I've definitely never heard it, but then I guess it's not the kind of saying we'd have a lot of use for here!
Never heard of hessian water bags either, I'm really surprised they would actually hold water. I may have to test that out myself just to prove it 
But if it stays cool through evaporation, in that sort of temperature how long before it's all just evaporated?
But if it stays cool through evaporation, in that sort of temperature how long before it's all just evaporated?2 people like this
@JudyEv (351591)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Mar
Research says 'hessian' but maybe it's more like canvas. Thinking about it, I doubt hessian would hold water for too long. It's quite a thick, solid material. Once it's wet, it doesn't leak much unless it's touching something. Water in water-bags would eventually evaporate away but you'd try refill it every chance you got.
2 people like this
@sw8sincere (5554)
• Philippines
25 Mar
Never heard that one before but I hope you’re managing to stay cool in this weather.
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@GardenGerty (163217)
• United States
26 Mar
Never have heard the phrase, but I have known of this type of cooling. Man would that have been hot.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351591)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Mar
They were very innovative in those days. They had to be.
@allknowing (144478)
• India
26 Mar
That saying is new to me and I only know of one hot water bag that I use for fomentation. These days I uuse it every day
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@luisadannointed (7309)
• Philippines
25 Mar
Its a good trivia. thanks for sharing.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (109001)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
25 Mar
I have never heard of the saying that you shared here even though I have heard of the saying "It is so hot that eggs can melt on the street."
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