An Effort Done Carelessly, Incompetently, Or Insufficiently
I love a good phrase or idiom. Slow boat to China, a bone to pick, cats pajamas, bite off more than you can chew, etc. Sometimes I like to look up the origin of these figures of speech as I am a curious fellow. Here is a story of one phrase that you might find surprising.
The statement means an effort done carelessly, incompetently or insufficiently. See if you can come up with it as the origin story is revealed.
Michelangelo was about to start his statue of David and wanted the perfect male specimen as a model. Everyone said use Agostino, he has the best physique but is a bit of a diva. Mickey, as known to is buds, got Agostino to come in for a look but asked to see him naked first. Agostino obliged but Mickey was put off by Agostino’s hairy behind. Mickey said he would pay him top dollar but asked the model to please shave his rear before the sitting, although in this case standing. Agostino was quite offended by being asked to do this as no other sculptors made such a request. After much arguing, he agreed as the pay was quite good, and he was losing gigs due to his prima donna attitude.
Agostino shaved one side of his behind but then stopped as his anger over the request got the best of him. He showed for the standing and Mickey was taken aback by what he saw. Mickey said “why didn’t you shaved the other half?”. Agostino retorted “I like the look”. Mickey said, “It’s certainly a look, a bad look”. After much bickering, they agreed to continue working together as is. Mickey’s assistant, Guiseppe, known as Gus to his friends, spread the news at the baths. This is how the term half-assed originated.
