Throw us out, lock, stock, and boa

Question

Then my brothers started trapping the mice, which I thought was just to help out. I didn't suspect a thing until the day I heard my mother screaming from the depths of their room. They were, it turns out, raising a boa constrictor.

Mom's foot came down in a big way, and I thought she was going to throw us out, lock, stock, and boa, but then I made the most amazing discovery—chickens lay eggs! Beautiful, shiny, creamy white eggs! I first found one under Bonnie, then Clyde—whom I immediately renamed Clydette—and one more in Florence's bed. Eggs!

throw us out, lock, stock, and boa,: what's the meaning of lock, stock and boa?

Stephenmatlock · Accepted Answer

It's a play on words.

The phrase is usually "lock, stock, and barrel," meaning (idiomatically) "everything." You can't get any more complete than lock, stock, and barrel.

"boa" sounds similar to "barrel" (not alike, and not as a homophone. Just similar. ) So the writer is being clever by saying "lock, stock, and boa" in two meanings: she will throw you out, everything that you have, and she will throw you out, including your boa.

It's clever writing, but assumes a knowledge of the idiom and the similarity of the two words.

And Bonnie and Clyde are two famous anti-heroes in American history and in American movies.

Dela · Answer

Very interesting. thanks  a lot!

Throw us out, lock, stock, and boa

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬