Need help understanding what this British expression means...?

Question

I posted this same question in music, but unfortunately it seems nobody remembers the band Spooky Tooth. They had a song called "The Hoofer" on their album titled the Mirror... the lyrics had an odd expression that went "At no time will my feet leave my ankles".

Since they are a British band, I assumed this odd saying also derives from British Culture... what the heck does it mean!?

perhaps I should give a little more insight into the lyrical content of the rest of the song... the general theme is to not let people get you down "dont let the long haired ugly mother wearing a frown, get you down" and "I break off everything that is bothering me" etc... I kinda thought maybe the expression meant something like keeping your feet grounded, but why would your feet leave your ankles lol? I dunno, I would sure like to know tho

Answer 1

A hoofer is a dancer.It means he is so great a dancer that one might think his feet left his ankles.Make sence now.

Answer 2

The key is MAGIC!

"Hoofer" is early 20th century slang for a professional dancer, esp. a tap dancer.

So, first think of an accomplished dancer --perhaps a scene from a Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly movie.... dancing with every imaginable prop and around every concievable obstacle (e.g., dancing up the walls in "Singing in the Rain"). Almost like magic, isn't it?

And that's the point. The expression "At no time will my feet leave my ankles" is a take-off of language associated with a MAGICIAN. That is, this dancer's fancy FOOT-moves are being compared to a magician's slight of HAND.

More specifically, an important part of the magician's technique is his patter -- the talk that not only entertains but also assists in diverting attention away from the subtle tricks he does (usually) with his hands.

A common part of the patter is to draw ATTENTION to some larger action of the hands or other part of the body while accomplishing the subtle move. One of the best-known expressions related to this may be "Nothing up my sleeve" (though many baby boomers probably know that one more from Bullwinkle than from real magicians!) Some of these expressions begin "At no time". Among these, said in gest, is:

"(Note that) at no times do my fingers leave my hands!"

[or occaionally, "At no time will my hands leave my arms!"]

THIS is what "The Hoofer" is playing off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(illusion)#Techniques

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One other observation -- the song's metaphor is made more natural by the fact that we are used to metaphors about dancing, walking etc. for handling tricky or uncomfortable situations skillfully (or at least avoiding problems!) So compare:

'tiptoe [or skate or dance] around' a situation
'tread [or walk] lightly/carefully'
display/do some 'fancy footwork'

All of these, of course, refer primarly to VERBAL skill at handling delicate situations. But that just completes the set -- verbal [wit/joking], manual ['tricks'] and other physical dexterity [dance, juggling, etc] are often combined in the ancient arts of the entertainer... be it a medieval jester (jongleur, 'spiller', etc) or a modern musician. (In fact, the lyrics of the song you're citing likewise suggest his verbally sidestepping problems, e.g., by singing a love song.)
http://www.4eigner.net/themusic/fr2000d1.html#21

Answer 3

I'm English, and I'm afraid that I've never heard of that expression - or the band!!

I'd suggest that it's simply lyrics. And lyrics are not famous for being sensible, logical, or even complete sentences!
; )

Sorry..!

Answer 4

It could refer to the disease of hoof mouth and paw.

Answer 5

perhaps it means his feet do not get him down...?
just kidding

i think it may just mean that he is standing firm

Answer 6

I have another...what does..."this is a right old Jennifer Lopez" mean?