What does “stay in vegetables” mean?












27















The quote says "Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables".
I realize the last part does not mean something like "remain in the box with potatoes" literally, so what does it mean?










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  • Also, reddit.com/r/Graffiti/comments/9kjhyg/…

    – Kris
    Feb 6 at 7:49






  • 8





    Similar to "People to do, things to go, places to eat." ;)

    – Tetsujin
    Feb 7 at 9:01
















27















The quote says "Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables".
I realize the last part does not mean something like "remain in the box with potatoes" literally, so what does it mean?










share|improve this question























  • Also, reddit.com/r/Graffiti/comments/9kjhyg/…

    – Kris
    Feb 6 at 7:49






  • 8





    Similar to "People to do, things to go, places to eat." ;)

    – Tetsujin
    Feb 7 at 9:01














27












27








27








The quote says "Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables".
I realize the last part does not mean something like "remain in the box with potatoes" literally, so what does it mean?










share|improve this question














The quote says "Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables".
I realize the last part does not mean something like "remain in the box with potatoes" literally, so what does it mean?







popular-refrains






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked Feb 5 at 19:55









PutnikPutnik

277159




277159













  • Also, reddit.com/r/Graffiti/comments/9kjhyg/…

    – Kris
    Feb 6 at 7:49






  • 8





    Similar to "People to do, things to go, places to eat." ;)

    – Tetsujin
    Feb 7 at 9:01



















  • Also, reddit.com/r/Graffiti/comments/9kjhyg/…

    – Kris
    Feb 6 at 7:49






  • 8





    Similar to "People to do, things to go, places to eat." ;)

    – Tetsujin
    Feb 7 at 9:01

















Also, reddit.com/r/Graffiti/comments/9kjhyg/…

– Kris
Feb 6 at 7:49





Also, reddit.com/r/Graffiti/comments/9kjhyg/…

– Kris
Feb 6 at 7:49




8




8





Similar to "People to do, things to go, places to eat." ;)

– Tetsujin
Feb 7 at 9:01





Similar to "People to do, things to go, places to eat." ;)

– Tetsujin
Feb 7 at 9:01










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















134














A bit of context to where this comes from might help. This is pretty clearly a humorous transposition of phrases. It's mixing up "Don't do drugs, eat your vegetables, stay in school"



I don't think it's meant to have a specific meaning since it's likely just someone joking around.






share|improve this answer





















  • 11





    It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

    – Kris
    Feb 6 at 7:50






  • 30





    This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

    – Ruadhan2300
    Feb 6 at 9:08






  • 10





    Agreed - the context needs some question

    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Feb 6 at 11:52






  • 12





    Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

    – Flater
    Feb 6 at 12:23






  • 16





    @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

    – Robert Furber
    Feb 6 at 15:04



















15














This is kind of a malaphor, although not strictly one. This is one common saying that has had some of its words swapped around for effect. The full saying as it usually goes is:




Stay in school, don't do drugs, eat your vegetables.




Sometimes the order of the clauses is changed for emphasis.






share|improve this answer
























  • Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

    – Kris
    Feb 6 at 7:41






  • 8





    How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

    – Lightness Races in Orbit
    Feb 6 at 11:52











  • Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

    – mckenzm
    Feb 7 at 4:34













  • @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

    – Mitch
    Feb 7 at 23:19



















7














That's the joke.¹



This is a deliberate corruption of the juxtaposition of three sentences: “stay in school”, “don't do drugs”, “eat your vegetables”. Each of these sentences is a thing that a parent might tell their child, or more generally advice that adults are expected to give to young children (the one about vegetables) or teenagers (the ones about school and drugs).



“Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables” takes those three sentences and shuffles the complements around. “Don't do school” is not a common use of the verb do, but it is a straightforward use of the same meaning of do as the expression “[don't] do drugs”, where “do” means “participate in some action that involves the complement”. So it's just the opposite of the usual parental advice “stay in school”. “Eat your drugs” is also the opposite of the corresponding parental advice (“don't do drugs”), but it's weirder than the first part of the sentence because one does not normally “eat” drugs. Still, eat is a technically correct verb for drugs that are ingested through the mouth, such as weed cookies. Finally, “stay in vegetables” is so weird that it's completely meaningless. The humor comes in part from the escalation: the first part is wrong, the second is weird, and the third is not even wrong².



¹ A somewhat idiomatic expression which has the subtext “you didn't get the joke”.

² An idiomatic expression that basically means “meaningless”.






share|improve this answer

































    1














    There are already answers explaining how this is a jumbling of a stock advice. I am not expanding on that. "Stay in vegetables" can have a perfectly valid meaning, however, outside of the obvious literal one (like staying in the vegetables aisle when a shooter is roaming the supermarket, or when you are asking where to do inventory next): namely short for "stay invested in vegetables". This can be advice to a grocer about what to keep in his offerings. It can be advice for somebody's investment portfolio. If you are into alliteration: what to keep in stock or what to keep in stocks.






    share|improve this answer































      -7














      The sentence wouldn't have taken the wind if it was just a random words swapping. The resulting phrase makes (an ironical) sense of its own.



      There a common metaphor of living as a vegetable with the meaning of being deliberately passive, not pursuing any goals in life. Sitting in one place doing nothing, living a life not more productive than that of a plant. Such an attitude is commonly despised, so it makes the perfect sense in the resulting sentence: Don't go to school, do drugs, enjoy your life as a vegetable.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 8





        You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

        – Mr Lister
        Feb 6 at 8:01











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      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

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      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

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      active

      oldest

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      134














      A bit of context to where this comes from might help. This is pretty clearly a humorous transposition of phrases. It's mixing up "Don't do drugs, eat your vegetables, stay in school"



      I don't think it's meant to have a specific meaning since it's likely just someone joking around.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 11





        It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:50






      • 30





        This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

        – Ruadhan2300
        Feb 6 at 9:08






      • 10





        Agreed - the context needs some question

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52






      • 12





        Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

        – Flater
        Feb 6 at 12:23






      • 16





        @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

        – Robert Furber
        Feb 6 at 15:04
















      134














      A bit of context to where this comes from might help. This is pretty clearly a humorous transposition of phrases. It's mixing up "Don't do drugs, eat your vegetables, stay in school"



      I don't think it's meant to have a specific meaning since it's likely just someone joking around.






      share|improve this answer





















      • 11





        It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:50






      • 30





        This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

        – Ruadhan2300
        Feb 6 at 9:08






      • 10





        Agreed - the context needs some question

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52






      • 12





        Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

        – Flater
        Feb 6 at 12:23






      • 16





        @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

        – Robert Furber
        Feb 6 at 15:04














      134












      134








      134







      A bit of context to where this comes from might help. This is pretty clearly a humorous transposition of phrases. It's mixing up "Don't do drugs, eat your vegetables, stay in school"



      I don't think it's meant to have a specific meaning since it's likely just someone joking around.






      share|improve this answer















      A bit of context to where this comes from might help. This is pretty clearly a humorous transposition of phrases. It's mixing up "Don't do drugs, eat your vegetables, stay in school"



      I don't think it's meant to have a specific meaning since it's likely just someone joking around.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Feb 11 at 15:21

























      answered Feb 5 at 20:02









      MarkTOMarkTO

      1,537159




      1,537159








      • 11





        It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:50






      • 30





        This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

        – Ruadhan2300
        Feb 6 at 9:08






      • 10





        Agreed - the context needs some question

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52






      • 12





        Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

        – Flater
        Feb 6 at 12:23






      • 16





        @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

        – Robert Furber
        Feb 6 at 15:04














      • 11





        It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:50






      • 30





        This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

        – Ruadhan2300
        Feb 6 at 9:08






      • 10





        Agreed - the context needs some question

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52






      • 12





        Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

        – Flater
        Feb 6 at 12:23






      • 16





        @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

        – Robert Furber
        Feb 6 at 15:04








      11




      11





      It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

      – Kris
      Feb 6 at 7:50





      It is mean to have a specific meaning. Joking, of course, but on purpose. It's not called juxtaposition, it's transposition, btw.

      – Kris
      Feb 6 at 7:50




      30




      30





      This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

      – Ruadhan2300
      Feb 6 at 9:08





      This is definitely the correct answer. It's a relatively common thing to mess with idiomatic phrases for comedic effect. Reddit is particularly prone to it these days for example. The rewritten idiom loses its meaning, but it also subverts expectations, which is the root of the humour.

      – Ruadhan2300
      Feb 6 at 9:08




      10




      10





      Agreed - the context needs some question

      – Lightness Races in Orbit
      Feb 6 at 11:52





      Agreed - the context needs some question

      – Lightness Races in Orbit
      Feb 6 at 11:52




      12




      12





      Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

      – Flater
      Feb 6 at 12:23





      Other examples: "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?" "People to go, places to meet".

      – Flater
      Feb 6 at 12:23




      16




      16





      @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

      – Robert Furber
      Feb 6 at 15:04





      @Flater The more famous one is "I have things to see, and people to do." This one works a bit better as a joke than the other examples because it gets a new meaning.

      – Robert Furber
      Feb 6 at 15:04













      15














      This is kind of a malaphor, although not strictly one. This is one common saying that has had some of its words swapped around for effect. The full saying as it usually goes is:




      Stay in school, don't do drugs, eat your vegetables.




      Sometimes the order of the clauses is changed for emphasis.






      share|improve this answer
























      • Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:41






      • 8





        How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52











      • Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

        – mckenzm
        Feb 7 at 4:34













      • @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

        – Mitch
        Feb 7 at 23:19
















      15














      This is kind of a malaphor, although not strictly one. This is one common saying that has had some of its words swapped around for effect. The full saying as it usually goes is:




      Stay in school, don't do drugs, eat your vegetables.




      Sometimes the order of the clauses is changed for emphasis.






      share|improve this answer
























      • Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:41






      • 8





        How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52











      • Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

        – mckenzm
        Feb 7 at 4:34













      • @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

        – Mitch
        Feb 7 at 23:19














      15












      15








      15







      This is kind of a malaphor, although not strictly one. This is one common saying that has had some of its words swapped around for effect. The full saying as it usually goes is:




      Stay in school, don't do drugs, eat your vegetables.




      Sometimes the order of the clauses is changed for emphasis.






      share|improve this answer













      This is kind of a malaphor, although not strictly one. This is one common saying that has had some of its words swapped around for effect. The full saying as it usually goes is:




      Stay in school, don't do drugs, eat your vegetables.




      Sometimes the order of the clauses is changed for emphasis.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Feb 5 at 20:02









      senschensenschen

      33816




      33816













      • Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:41






      • 8





        How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52











      • Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

        – mckenzm
        Feb 7 at 4:34













      • @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

        – Mitch
        Feb 7 at 23:19



















      • Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

        – Kris
        Feb 6 at 7:41






      • 8





        How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

        – Lightness Races in Orbit
        Feb 6 at 11:52











      • Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

        – mckenzm
        Feb 7 at 4:34













      • @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

        – Mitch
        Feb 7 at 23:19

















      Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

      – Kris
      Feb 6 at 7:41





      Do cite the source to make this a proper answer.

      – Kris
      Feb 6 at 7:41




      8




      8





      How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

      – Lightness Races in Orbit
      Feb 6 at 11:52





      How does swapping the order of the words (not clauses) add emphasis?

      – Lightness Races in Orbit
      Feb 6 at 11:52













      Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

      – mckenzm
      Feb 7 at 4:34







      Like many a similar tmesis, and almost all deliberate spoonerisms, It is for comedic effect

      – mckenzm
      Feb 7 at 4:34















      @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

      – Mitch
      Feb 7 at 23:19





      @mckenzm How is this tmesis or a spoonerism? While similar to a spoonerism, it does not match the strict definition.

      – Mitch
      Feb 7 at 23:19











      7














      That's the joke.¹



      This is a deliberate corruption of the juxtaposition of three sentences: “stay in school”, “don't do drugs”, “eat your vegetables”. Each of these sentences is a thing that a parent might tell their child, or more generally advice that adults are expected to give to young children (the one about vegetables) or teenagers (the ones about school and drugs).



      “Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables” takes those three sentences and shuffles the complements around. “Don't do school” is not a common use of the verb do, but it is a straightforward use of the same meaning of do as the expression “[don't] do drugs”, where “do” means “participate in some action that involves the complement”. So it's just the opposite of the usual parental advice “stay in school”. “Eat your drugs” is also the opposite of the corresponding parental advice (“don't do drugs”), but it's weirder than the first part of the sentence because one does not normally “eat” drugs. Still, eat is a technically correct verb for drugs that are ingested through the mouth, such as weed cookies. Finally, “stay in vegetables” is so weird that it's completely meaningless. The humor comes in part from the escalation: the first part is wrong, the second is weird, and the third is not even wrong².



      ¹ A somewhat idiomatic expression which has the subtext “you didn't get the joke”.

      ² An idiomatic expression that basically means “meaningless”.






      share|improve this answer






























        7














        That's the joke.¹



        This is a deliberate corruption of the juxtaposition of three sentences: “stay in school”, “don't do drugs”, “eat your vegetables”. Each of these sentences is a thing that a parent might tell their child, or more generally advice that adults are expected to give to young children (the one about vegetables) or teenagers (the ones about school and drugs).



        “Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables” takes those three sentences and shuffles the complements around. “Don't do school” is not a common use of the verb do, but it is a straightforward use of the same meaning of do as the expression “[don't] do drugs”, where “do” means “participate in some action that involves the complement”. So it's just the opposite of the usual parental advice “stay in school”. “Eat your drugs” is also the opposite of the corresponding parental advice (“don't do drugs”), but it's weirder than the first part of the sentence because one does not normally “eat” drugs. Still, eat is a technically correct verb for drugs that are ingested through the mouth, such as weed cookies. Finally, “stay in vegetables” is so weird that it's completely meaningless. The humor comes in part from the escalation: the first part is wrong, the second is weird, and the third is not even wrong².



        ¹ A somewhat idiomatic expression which has the subtext “you didn't get the joke”.

        ² An idiomatic expression that basically means “meaningless”.






        share|improve this answer




























          7












          7








          7







          That's the joke.¹



          This is a deliberate corruption of the juxtaposition of three sentences: “stay in school”, “don't do drugs”, “eat your vegetables”. Each of these sentences is a thing that a parent might tell their child, or more generally advice that adults are expected to give to young children (the one about vegetables) or teenagers (the ones about school and drugs).



          “Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables” takes those three sentences and shuffles the complements around. “Don't do school” is not a common use of the verb do, but it is a straightforward use of the same meaning of do as the expression “[don't] do drugs”, where “do” means “participate in some action that involves the complement”. So it's just the opposite of the usual parental advice “stay in school”. “Eat your drugs” is also the opposite of the corresponding parental advice (“don't do drugs”), but it's weirder than the first part of the sentence because one does not normally “eat” drugs. Still, eat is a technically correct verb for drugs that are ingested through the mouth, such as weed cookies. Finally, “stay in vegetables” is so weird that it's completely meaningless. The humor comes in part from the escalation: the first part is wrong, the second is weird, and the third is not even wrong².



          ¹ A somewhat idiomatic expression which has the subtext “you didn't get the joke”.

          ² An idiomatic expression that basically means “meaningless”.






          share|improve this answer















          That's the joke.¹



          This is a deliberate corruption of the juxtaposition of three sentences: “stay in school”, “don't do drugs”, “eat your vegetables”. Each of these sentences is a thing that a parent might tell their child, or more generally advice that adults are expected to give to young children (the one about vegetables) or teenagers (the ones about school and drugs).



          “Don't do school, eat your drugs, stay in vegetables” takes those three sentences and shuffles the complements around. “Don't do school” is not a common use of the verb do, but it is a straightforward use of the same meaning of do as the expression “[don't] do drugs”, where “do” means “participate in some action that involves the complement”. So it's just the opposite of the usual parental advice “stay in school”. “Eat your drugs” is also the opposite of the corresponding parental advice (“don't do drugs”), but it's weirder than the first part of the sentence because one does not normally “eat” drugs. Still, eat is a technically correct verb for drugs that are ingested through the mouth, such as weed cookies. Finally, “stay in vegetables” is so weird that it's completely meaningless. The humor comes in part from the escalation: the first part is wrong, the second is weird, and the third is not even wrong².



          ¹ A somewhat idiomatic expression which has the subtext “you didn't get the joke”.

          ² An idiomatic expression that basically means “meaningless”.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Feb 8 at 15:19









          Marthaª

          27.4k1087145




          27.4k1087145










          answered Feb 7 at 21:35









          GillesGilles

          3,95862650




          3,95862650























              1














              There are already answers explaining how this is a jumbling of a stock advice. I am not expanding on that. "Stay in vegetables" can have a perfectly valid meaning, however, outside of the obvious literal one (like staying in the vegetables aisle when a shooter is roaming the supermarket, or when you are asking where to do inventory next): namely short for "stay invested in vegetables". This can be advice to a grocer about what to keep in his offerings. It can be advice for somebody's investment portfolio. If you are into alliteration: what to keep in stock or what to keep in stocks.






              share|improve this answer




























                1














                There are already answers explaining how this is a jumbling of a stock advice. I am not expanding on that. "Stay in vegetables" can have a perfectly valid meaning, however, outside of the obvious literal one (like staying in the vegetables aisle when a shooter is roaming the supermarket, or when you are asking where to do inventory next): namely short for "stay invested in vegetables". This can be advice to a grocer about what to keep in his offerings. It can be advice for somebody's investment portfolio. If you are into alliteration: what to keep in stock or what to keep in stocks.






                share|improve this answer


























                  1












                  1








                  1







                  There are already answers explaining how this is a jumbling of a stock advice. I am not expanding on that. "Stay in vegetables" can have a perfectly valid meaning, however, outside of the obvious literal one (like staying in the vegetables aisle when a shooter is roaming the supermarket, or when you are asking where to do inventory next): namely short for "stay invested in vegetables". This can be advice to a grocer about what to keep in his offerings. It can be advice for somebody's investment portfolio. If you are into alliteration: what to keep in stock or what to keep in stocks.






                  share|improve this answer













                  There are already answers explaining how this is a jumbling of a stock advice. I am not expanding on that. "Stay in vegetables" can have a perfectly valid meaning, however, outside of the obvious literal one (like staying in the vegetables aisle when a shooter is roaming the supermarket, or when you are asking where to do inventory next): namely short for "stay invested in vegetables". This can be advice to a grocer about what to keep in his offerings. It can be advice for somebody's investment portfolio. If you are into alliteration: what to keep in stock or what to keep in stocks.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Feb 8 at 16:52









                  user335504user335504

                  111




                  111























                      -7














                      The sentence wouldn't have taken the wind if it was just a random words swapping. The resulting phrase makes (an ironical) sense of its own.



                      There a common metaphor of living as a vegetable with the meaning of being deliberately passive, not pursuing any goals in life. Sitting in one place doing nothing, living a life not more productive than that of a plant. Such an attitude is commonly despised, so it makes the perfect sense in the resulting sentence: Don't go to school, do drugs, enjoy your life as a vegetable.






                      share|improve this answer





















                      • 8





                        You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

                        – Mr Lister
                        Feb 6 at 8:01
















                      -7














                      The sentence wouldn't have taken the wind if it was just a random words swapping. The resulting phrase makes (an ironical) sense of its own.



                      There a common metaphor of living as a vegetable with the meaning of being deliberately passive, not pursuing any goals in life. Sitting in one place doing nothing, living a life not more productive than that of a plant. Such an attitude is commonly despised, so it makes the perfect sense in the resulting sentence: Don't go to school, do drugs, enjoy your life as a vegetable.






                      share|improve this answer





















                      • 8





                        You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

                        – Mr Lister
                        Feb 6 at 8:01














                      -7












                      -7








                      -7







                      The sentence wouldn't have taken the wind if it was just a random words swapping. The resulting phrase makes (an ironical) sense of its own.



                      There a common metaphor of living as a vegetable with the meaning of being deliberately passive, not pursuing any goals in life. Sitting in one place doing nothing, living a life not more productive than that of a plant. Such an attitude is commonly despised, so it makes the perfect sense in the resulting sentence: Don't go to school, do drugs, enjoy your life as a vegetable.






                      share|improve this answer















                      The sentence wouldn't have taken the wind if it was just a random words swapping. The resulting phrase makes (an ironical) sense of its own.



                      There a common metaphor of living as a vegetable with the meaning of being deliberately passive, not pursuing any goals in life. Sitting in one place doing nothing, living a life not more productive than that of a plant. Such an attitude is commonly despised, so it makes the perfect sense in the resulting sentence: Don't go to school, do drugs, enjoy your life as a vegetable.







                      share|improve this answer














                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer








                      edited Feb 6 at 9:35

























                      answered Feb 6 at 7:36









                      Col. ShrapnelCol. Shrapnel

                      1599




                      1599








                      • 8





                        You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

                        – Mr Lister
                        Feb 6 at 8:01














                      • 8





                        You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

                        – Mr Lister
                        Feb 6 at 8:01








                      8




                      8





                      You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

                      – Mr Lister
                      Feb 6 at 8:01





                      You're overthinking things. The first two phrases make sense with that explanation, but the third is just the words that were left over.

                      – Mr Lister
                      Feb 6 at 8:01


















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