An argument needs settling with my elderly father.
A family saying 'Like the cat in the adage - her arse was wreathed in smiles'.
It's been a family joke forever, meaning being a smug git/getting above yourself or unduly pleased with yourself. I know the Macbeth reference obviously, but the second half is eluding both me & Google.
Dad is insisting it's a legit quote. He's getting increasingly forgetful, which means he does hang on to things like this. He's told me it's Seneca (no - or at least I can't find it) & is really quite grumpy that I can't find him the reference.
My personal theory is that my rather fabulous grandmother cobbled it together from things she'd come across in different sources - she left school at 14, then read EVERYTHING & passed down her love of reading to her son (& me).
Anyone? I'm quite happy for it to be copyright grandma, 1950ish. It's quite poetical & I think it's rather cool that my brother & I both still say it to our kids.
It's seriously winding my dad up. I can't just say 'yes, dad, you're right. Seneca.'. He will obsessively try to find it online & get upset.
No diagnosis of dementia etc...but he's definitely slowing down in terms of his processing (early 80s), & getting increasingly infuriated when he can't recall/analyse stuff easily. He's a smart guy - working class background, multiple OU degrees, incredibly well read.
Currently he is fixated on this family phrase & insistent I can track it down for him.
I suspect it's a just a family idiom! But I promised him I'd ask. Anyone got a clue?!