Fluther: What does the old American phrase, "Sparking", mean?

What does the old American phrase, "Sparking", mean?

Asked by Kato (445

) September 30th, 2011
33 responses
“Great Question” (7

)

In the late 1800’s and Early 1900’s there was a phrase: Sparking. The context is usually a male sparking over a female or vice versa. I have heard it used as, “THERE WILL BE NO SPARKING AT LADIES WHILE YOU ARE IN MY EMPLOYMENT!” As I understand it, it is likened to some one being smitten with or over another person. However, a family member told me that it meant making out with another person. The later feels out of the cultural norm for the time. Please help me understand the phrase better.

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Answers

Flirting.

Hinting at romance.

Romancing.

Welcome to Fluther!

Dog (25152

)“Great Answer” (10

)

Not making out really; it just means to court or woo or pursue someone romantically.

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (4

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“THERE WILL BE NO SPARKING WHILE YOU ARE FLUTHERING!”

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (7

)

@EnchantingEla and for anyone hoping for a second date, there should probably be no fluthering while sparking. :-)

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (2

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I had a great reply till I read….. “This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.”

LOL carry on ;)

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (1

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Emit sparks of fire or electricity.

DreamTrees (354

)“Great Answer” (0

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Maybe it’s like “snogging”.

fizzbanger (2765

)“Great Answer” (1

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~~“THERE WILL BE NO SNOGGING WHILE YOU ARE FLUTHERING!”~~

@Dog said it was Flirting. Hinting at romance. Romancing. (< that’s the one i’m going with @fizzbanger )
oh and the courting or wooing and gooing that @lillycoyote said ; )

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (2

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It refers to sparking the attention of a woman…as in a fire burning in the heart of a gentleman admirer….its an outdated term…which we now call “hot” :) It’s still the same fire, nonetheless.

DreamTrees (354

)“Great Answer” (3

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He’s new so give him that. He will eventually post them in social to get the most fun out of his questions.

For the answer read the above replies.

Hibernate (9091

)“Great Answer” (0

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How do you know he’s a him @Hibernate? Him may be a her : )

Welcome to Fluther, Kato! ; )

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (1

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@EnchantingEla usually Kato is a boy’s name. Let’s just ask “it” and we’ll find out. I’ma give you some cookies if you are right ^^

Hibernate (9091

)“Great Answer” (1

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I’m already right. lol I said him may be a her… now gimme dem cookies! ; )

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (1

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Response moderated

Sorry @augustlan : ( We tried to help and behave but I personally was too weak : (
I also tried moving it to social but the bugger wouldn’t budge

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (1

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@augustlan since he’s new maybe he didn’t pay to much attention when asking the question or he didn’t knew the difference between general and social. [just sayin]

Hibernate (9091

)“Great Answer” (1

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[mod says] Question has been moved to Social at the request of the asker. Enjoy!

augustlan (47745

)“Great Answer” (2

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Her is a her @Hibernate!!! Give up the goods dude-ster! ; )

ty @augustlan (me with my halo) -> 0: )

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (2

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Just for reference sake, Kato is a Lady. ;)

Kato (445

)“Great Answer” (1

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Kato is short for Katoptrizo, it is ancient greek and means: “to reflect as a mirror”

Kato (445

)“Great Answer” (1

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Way to go, @Kato, and there will be no sparking, fluthering, snogging or anything else while multitasking! That would just be too many things!

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (1

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And Thank you, I am new and glad to be here!

Kato (445

)“Great Answer” (1

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Now what is snogging?

Kato (445

)“Great Answer” (0

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Welcome to Fluther, @Kato, we didn’t mean to go so off-topic on your question, we can just be bad on occasion, we really don’t mean to be, it’s just the way we are sometimes. :-) Thanks for moving it to social!

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (0

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@lillycoyote my pleasure, you are right this is definitely funner!

Kato (445

)“Great Answer” (1

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Welcome to Fluther, Kato! you may want to keep your eye on @lillycoyote…LOL

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (1

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I’m not sure what “snogging’ is either. I just Googled it and it is apparently a British expression for kissing and hugging and cuddling, maybe making out, I don’t know. I would definitely want a Brit to weigh in and clarify.

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (1

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lillycoyote is crafting a response…

wait for it….....wait for it…..... BING!

[i didn’t want to interupt ; )]

Ela (6503

)“Great Answer” (1

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@EnchantingEla I thought you were crafting a response! :-) But you were just crafting a response about my crafting a response? That one is echoing all over the internet now and is it deafening!

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (1

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I am perfectly ok with Brits, you can bring them to me any time… I would love to have a gentlemen Brit weigh in on….my topic (what were you thinking?)

Kato (445

)“Great Answer” (0

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I think “sparking” is definitely an American term but snogging seems to be British.

According to this definition it could maybe mean a number of things.

According to this definition it means passionate kissing.

I think “sparking” is really more courting and doesn’t necessarily involve any physical contact. We need someone from the British Isles to clarify this, the snogging thing, I think. I will try to track one down. :-)

lillycoyote (24865

)“Great Answer” (1

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Here is the Beverly Hillbillies episode where Elly Mae get all gussied up in her courtin’ and sparkin’ clothes for her first date. Whoo-eee!
She’s purtier than a plate of baked ‘possum with an apple in its mouth!

LuckyGuy (43689

)“Great Answer” (1

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“Sparking” is courting. You know, like making sparks to light a fire. :)

Skaggfacemutt (9820

)“Great Answer” (0

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