Where does the term "sweating cobs" come from?
Answers:
The term "sweating cobs" is a British expression not commonly used in the United States.
From Wikipedia >> It means sweating large globules of sweat, and indicates the person saying "I'm sweating cobs" is too hot.
being very hot, or scared,
I've never heard of this saying before. Do you mean "sweating gobs" like tons of sweating? Sorry. I'm not much help.
I'm not sure about this but 'cobs' were a type of small round bun, which could represent large droplets of sweat. Cobs are also a type of small sturdy horse/pony that was often used for ploughing and heavy cart work.
"Cobs" are (in Northern English vernacular at least - possibly elsewhere
in the UK) something that you sweat! Possibly meaning taken
as meaning "lumps", describing being very hot, or scared, people sometimes say they were "sweating cobs".
cob—which is a kind of adobe made of clay, sand and straw.
The Fireman's Song
The Fireman's Song
(D. Bilston)
Whenever you see a train go by,
Or hear an engine's whistle cry,
Think of the man on the old footplate
Shovelling coal, the drivers mate.
cho: A loco fireman is me grade,
Boiling water is me trade,
The driver thinks he runs the show,
But if I'm not there the train won't go.
Heaving coal for a hungry fire,
Sweating cobs to get steam higher,
Of the colliers harvest that I burn,
With toil and sweat, me wages earn
The driver sits there like a god,
A decent mate but an idle sod.
Though I'll be shovelling on me knees
Still he'll sit there at his ease.
The pick and shovel are tools of me trade
And two strong arms to swing the blade,
Hands with palms as hard as leather,
And nimble feet as light as a feather
One day a driver I will be,
Of the pick and shovel I'll be free,
Until that day I'll shift the coal,
Raising stream so the train can roll.
from an old fireman song
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