Head down, a** up?

[Thisisthelaststraw]

Dh and I have been having a conversation with dd about studying for exams. She has not been applying herself so I was saying she needs to put down the phone and get working hard if she wants to see results. I used the phrase “head down, a** up” meaning get working hard and forget all distractions. I’ve heard it many times in my 40 years and that’s what it’s always meant.

When dd left the room dh said “you need to stop saying that”. I asked why and he informs me they’re the lyrics to a song with sexual meaning. I looked it up and it is.

I feel weird now as dd is 18 and probably knows this song and though I’m pretty sure she knows that’s not what I’m talking about it’s just left me feeling bothered.

AIBU to think this was actually a phrase that means exactly what I think long before it became a song with another meaning?

I can’t find the origin. Google is not your friend when looking up that phrase. There were some very questionable suggestions!

I think seeing as I found it in above pic I am proven to be correct

Despite usually leaping towards the gutter, when I saw your OP it reminded of the duck poem from With in the Willows:

“DUCKS’ DITTY.”

All along the backwater,

Through the rushes tall,

Ducks are a-dabbling,

Up tails all!

Ducks’ tails, drakes’ tails,

Yellow feet a-quiver,

Yellow bills all out of sight

Busy in the river!

Slushy green undergrowth

Where the roach swim—

Here we keep our larder,

Cool and full and dim.

Everyone for what he likes!

We like to be

Heads down, tails up,

Dabbling free!

High in the blue above

Swifts whirl and call—

We are down a-dabbling

Up tails all!

Well I have been googling too and didn't find the Everest link but was directed to you tube where there's multi vile versions of vile songs containing those words.
Oh dear.

Just do research on the derivation and keep your pecker chin up
If that's ok to say these days

@Monty

I love the ducks a dabbling!
Mind cleansed and now I can sleep

I’m older than 40 and I’ve heard the phrase “head down, bum up”, all my life, meaning working hard.

“head down, bum up (uncountable)

A figurative bodily position adopted when working hard at some task, either physical or mental. (Head down may well be literal, but bum up is figurative.)
2007: Hadn't heard a thing. Hard at work, head down, bum up. — Gold Coast Bulletin, Call of sea sirens, 6 April 2007 [1]
Synonyms Edit
hard at work”

God love you OP, this is hilarious

I only equate it to time to put extra effort in. Never heard the song.

I've heard of it for both (yes the song) but prior to the song I've heard it and assumed it means like a sprinter in the starting blocks... focused. That makes sense to me but maybe I'm being naive!

Sorry OP I think you've got your idioms crossed. Get your head down means study/work hard.

I think seeing as I found it in above pic I am proven to be correct

No it just means other people have made the same mistake as you!

Like if you search you can find lots of people who incorrectly think the phrase 'bull in a china shop' is 'bowl in a china shop' etc.

I’ve never heard the song, or even heard of it, but neither have I heard the phrase.

Is it erm a malapropism of sorts?

I’m under 40 and to me the phrase “heads down bums up” means really hard work and is a normal thing to say. And have never heard of that song. But am not British....

I've not heard the song but only know the sexual meaning.

Head down arse into gear I have heard but never anything about arse or bum up and I can't really see how that phrase would come about in terms of hard work most phrases usually have a logical origin somewhere.

Why would you think having your arse 'up' meant working hard?

I've never heard the song, but the phrase sounds sexual.

Why would you think having your arse 'up' meant working hard?

In fairness, even though I'd not heard it in the context before, a quick google suggests it's a fairly common phrase meaning to work hard.

When I read the title of the post thought it was something about doggy style 🤣

I’ve never heard of the song and have heard of head down in terms of working hard but arse up would obviously be sexual imo.

Not the end of the world though and your dd will be pleased to have her suspicions that you are the most embarrassing parent ever confirmed so, win wins

Why would you think having your arse 'up' meant working hard?

Because you’re thinking of it in a modern, urban setting. If you were a farmer hoeing or planting or picking in the days before mechanisation it would make perfect sense.

The phrase should be 'Head down bum up' which means work hard. I hear it all the time. You can google it.

Heads down, bum up is what I would say,

or the good old game of

Heads down, thumbs up,

Never heard the song that you are referencing though lol.

Head down, bum up definitely means hard work in Australia. Maybe it's a recent-ish import to the UK and that's why not everyone knows it? I hadn't heard it till I got here.
This photo illustrates it well.
I saw this Reddit post on Google too. It's very short but the title is relevant.
www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoughts/comments/42872o/head_down_bum_up_and_face_down_ass_up_are/

I guess it could be working hard in the fields, historically

It’s ‘face down, ass up’ so you’re fine... kidding you need to stop saying that