an
old saying, often used by
children, as a defense against an
attack of name-
calling (such as
calling one stupid or a crybaby). It is intended to inform another that the bad names or
foul words directed at the person will do him (the one on the receiving end) no harm at all. The
origin of this saying is unknown, but variations of it have been in
use as far back as the 1400s.