Question of the Day #692

“We were all young and invincible, full of piss and vinegar,” the Texas native said.

From the 5th pargraph of this article at Vantage Point.

上記の文で、full of piss and vinegarの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "full of piss and vinegar" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

《be ～》〈俗〉生き生きとしている、活力に満ちている

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

Having an abundance or excessive amount of boisterous, youthful energy, enthusiasm, or rowdiness.

語源

The Phrase Finderによると、

調べた限り最も古い例は、下記のJohn Steinbeckの1936年の小説In Dubious Battleのものです。


"Listen, mister,' London said, 'them guys is so full of piss and vinegar they'll skin you if you show that slick suit outside.'"

1920年代において、vinegarは活力やエネルギーの代名詞として使用されており、このイディオムでもその意味で使用されています。その頃、言葉をより生き生きとさせるためだけに多くの単語が元気や活力の代名詞として使われていた。

Etymology

According to The Phrase Finder,

The earliest citation I've found is from 1936 in John Steinbeck's novel In Dubious Battle:

"Listen, mister," London said, "them guys is so full of piss and vinegar they'll skin you if you show that slick suit outside."

During the 1920s vinegar was used to mean vitality and energy and that's the meaning in 'piss and vinegar'...At that time many phrases indicating a general perkiness and vitality entered the language, often for no other reason than linguistic exuberance.

Examples

• He's full of piss and vinegar this morning.
• Grampa walked up and slapped Tom on the chest, and his eyes grinned with affection and pride. "How are ya, Tommy?"
  "O.K.," said Tom. "How ya keepin' yaself?"
  "Full a piss an' vinegar," said Grampa.
  
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck, 1938
• Although we came out into the match full of piss and vinegar, our team just didn't have the skill necessary to beat our cross-town rivals.
• It took having kids of my own to remember how full of piss and vinegar a child can be at 6 AM.

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