A Mere Bag of Shells

[forn]

I was listening to a Beatles podcast the other day and one of the hosts used the phrase "a mere bag of shells". The other host immediately noted that it was "another Honeymooners reference".

Ralph uses the phrase on the Honeymooners a few times, but surely he didn't make it up? Anyone know of any other uses of the phrase outside of the Honeymooners?

[Alan Brady's Hair]

Apologies if this isn't the question you're asking: Ralph mispronounces the word "bagatelle," meaning a trinket or a trifling item.

[forn]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Apologies if this isn't the question you're asking: Ralph mispronounces the word "bagatelle," meaning a trinket or a trifling item.

Really? That's the joke? It's a malapropism? Lol, I've never heard of the word bagatelle, that's funny. Glad I asked.

Bag of shells actually makes sense though (sort of), which makes it funnier.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

Originally Posted by forn

Really? That's the joke? It's a malapropism? Lol, I've never heard of the word bagatelle, that's funny.

Yes, that's it. I think it's an old fashion-y word now.

[forn]

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Yes, that's it. I think it's an old fashion-y word now.

I think it's French.