suffering catfish

[Vics]

My Father, who was Scottish, used this as a term of astonishment. I have often wondered where/what does it originate from???

[Quizmonster]

"Suffering cats!" was a common exclamation of surprise a hundred years ago along with "Suffering Moses!" and similar phrases. I'd guess that "Suffering catfish!" was just a variant of the first mentioned above. "Suffering succotash!" was the catchphrase of an American cartoon character more recently.

[ineedahobby]

was it serendipity sam?

[jno]

Yosemite Sam, I think. These all have a sort of rural American air about them, but goodness knows where they actually come from. They don't sound as if they're euphemisms for Biblical blasphemy as some phrases do (gosh for God, gee whiz for Jesus and so on).

[geo0939]

Sylvester the cat to Tweety bird.

[geo0939]

This is for Sufferin succotash.

[xrayspecs]

It was Deputy Dog that said it as I recall

[Pajama Girl]

Yosemite Sam.

[Quizmonster]

Goodness me! Are there any American cartoon characters left? I was deliberately vague in my opening response, because I simply couldn't remember. Now, though, I'm feeling even more vague. Come along, our cousins across the pond...who was it?

[geo0939]

Google: Sufferin' succotash Cartoon. You should get Sylvester and Tweety-pie (Tweety- bird).

Cat and Canary.

[Vics]

Thanks for all this info guys and gals.I don't know how recent Sylvester and Tweetie pie are - but I doubt my dad who was saying this phrase ever since I have known him - 1968 onwards!! would have got in from there. I will therefore go with your first explanation Quizmonster. But - even if it started as Suffering Cats - what is the explanation/logic behind this!!?? Why cats and why suffering!!?? What historic link did this have to Suprise? I'm intrigued now......... Vics x

[Quizmonster]

As I said, Vics, there were other suffering variants...certainly 'Moses' as well as 'cats' is recorded. Mark Twain, for example, used the "Suffering Moses!" version in 'Innocents Abroad'.
Moses, of course, suffered according to the biblical account of his people's slavery in Egypt and - given that they're believed to have nine lives - cats, too, perhaps were thought to have a lot of suffering to get through. Maybe people thought along these lines?
I'd guess, however, that these things made no more sense than lots of catchphrases - such as the cat's pyjamas, the cat's whiskers, the bee's knees and so on - ever did.

[geo0939]

Looney tunes first paired Sylvester and Tweety Pie in 1947 and the first words that Sylvester, the cat, spoke (with a lisp) was "Thufferin' Thuccotath". This, however, has nothing whatsoever to do with sufferin' catfish.

[geo0939]

Or cats.

[mata hari]

The captain in the Tin Tin stories was scottish, and he always used to say "blistering blue barnacles!!" so perhaps it's a scottish seafaring thing ?

[Vics]

Thanks Mata. Mmmm I agree - I think it is perhaps some local saying. I will have to try and get hold of one of dad's brothers to confirm if they also say it!!!

[montag50158]

Sylvester (a cat) often said "suffering sucotash". Since he had a very moist lisp, this produced an amusing effect. I seem to recall from my childhood that he also said (though rarely) "suffering catfish" though this produced far less saliva. A question that has long plagued me is: why, of all things in the looney-tooniverse, are these two things most subject to pain? Are catfish naturally dysphoric? Does sucotash ponder excessively the First Noble Truth?