I see things like "he's such an old yeller", "old yeller is spotted", but I can't get what it means. I know it's a novel. Urban dictionary just gives a incoherent bunch of definitions.
Well shit. I never read the book or saw the movie because I knew how it ends, so I never knew the context. I might be a little sick now that I've happened across it.
If you might be sick because a dog had to be put down, much less an imaginary one, I shudder to think how you'd manage if something actually bad happened, or were imagined to happen. It's just a dog, and not even a real one. Grow up.
Sounds like you're seeing a bunch of people just use the reference incorrectly. As the other commenter said, it is usually used to refer something that is in need of, or has received, euthanasia, especially animals.
I suspect people are just conflating this with the "old man yells at clouds" meme, and are trying - and kind of failing - to mock someone who's calling out bad behaviour or something like that.
Also I’m not sure if it’s a generational thing but I (Gen X) have never once heard anyone say what OP is saying they’ve heard. And I wouldn’t expect that many of the younger generations are familiar with “Old Yeller”, my generation watched it in school, I’m sure there are new movies that are being watched since I’ve been out of school.
I’ve never heard anyone use this phrase, but my first thought is that an “Old Yeller” would be someone they want to “put out of their misery” (euthanasia) like the famous ending to the movie Old Yeller
It refers to a yellow Labrador dog. Pronouncing "yellow" as "yeller" is a feature of certain US dialects (along with examples like "hollow"/ "holler"). However, I have never heard it used in the context you describe. Who's saying it?
I agree with Old Yeller being the novel. However Yellow also means coward. In some of your examples it sounds more like they are saying the person is a coward then that they need to be shot because they are sick.
Old Yeller, was the dog in that novel/film (dialect pronunciation of yellow). The dog went rabid and had to be put down.
I'd assume, without more detailed context, that they were referring to someone going a bit crazy (and possibly needing to be distanced from).
Well shit. I never read the book or saw the movie because I knew how it ends, so I never knew the context. I might be a little sick now that I've happened across it.
Add that the dog was much loved and putting him down was not easy for anyone.
It's extra weepy because the dog gets rabies because he was protecting them from a rabid wolf.
If you might be sick because a dog had to be put down, much less an imaginary one, I shudder to think how you'd manage if something actually bad happened, or were imagined to happen. It's just a dog, and not even a real one. Grow up.
"Like old yeller" almost always refers to the boy reluctantly killing the dog after it contracts rabies protecting him.
Sounds like you're seeing a bunch of people just use the reference incorrectly. As the other commenter said, it is usually used to refer something that is in need of, or has received, euthanasia, especially animals.
I suspect people are just conflating this with the "old man yells at clouds" meme, and are trying - and kind of failing - to mock someone who's calling out bad behaviour or something like that.
I suspect you are correct.
Also I’m not sure if it’s a generational thing but I (Gen X) have never once heard anyone say what OP is saying they’ve heard. And I wouldn’t expect that many of the younger generations are familiar with “Old Yeller”, my generation watched it in school, I’m sure there are new movies that are being watched since I’ve been out of school.
"yeller" = "yellow"
I’ve never heard anyone use this phrase, but my first thought is that an “Old Yeller” would be someone they want to “put out of their misery” (euthanasia) like the famous ending to the movie Old Yeller
It’s an allusion to the novel “Old Yeller” by Fred Gipson.
It refers to a yellow Labrador dog. Pronouncing "yellow" as "yeller" is a feature of certain US dialects (along with examples like "hollow"/ "holler"). However, I have never heard it used in the context you describe. Who's saying it?
I'm pretty old, but Old Yeller was before my time, though I did know it was a dog in the movies.
It's a joke.
In the book, "Old Yeller" is a yellow Labrador Retriever. "Yeller" is "yellow" pronounced in the dialect of the area where the story is set.
"To yell" also means "to shout." So when you're calling someone an "old yeller," you're saying they they are a loud person who is also old.
English is funny like that, but funny-peculiar and not funny ha-ha.
I agree with Old Yeller being the novel. However Yellow also means coward. In some of your examples it sounds more like they are saying the person is a coward then that they need to be shot because they are sick.