Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A bump or depression in a road.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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It was a "thank-you-ma'am" in the middle of the road that caused
Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times Amy Brooks
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She did not know till much later that owing to the thank-you-ma'am which they reached simultaneously with the word "suddenly" that when
I've Married Marjorie Margaret Widdemer 1931
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Thus we do not believe that she willfully drove over every rut and thank-you-ma'am on the road, scattering us generously over the tonneau, and finally, when Aggie, who was the lighter, was tossed against the top and sprained her neck, eliciting a protest from us.
Tish 1916
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Thus we do not believe that she willfully drove over every rut and thank-you-ma'am on the road, scattering us generously over the tonneau, and finally, when
Tish Mary Roberts Rinehart 1917
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Offshore, with Washington in control of the global seas and skies, with its ability to kick down the world's doors and strike just about anywhere without a by-your-leave or thank-you-ma'am, it hopes for better.
The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Tom Engelhardt 2012
sionnach commented on the word thank-you-ma'am
A hollow or rut across a road that causes the people in a vehicle passing over it to nod involuntarily, the way one might do in acknowledging a favor and expressing thanks.
The alternate spelling thank'ee-marm is also used.
July 30, 2008