This week Shauna and Dan do their diligence to find out how to "Save My Bacon". Bonus: Bugbears, Budget Strategies, and controversial takes on what Country has the best bacon
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Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast
Episode 243: Save My Bacon
Record Date: August 3, 2024
Air Date: August 7, 2024
Intro
Dan:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase.
I’m Dan Pugh
Shauna:
And I’m Shauna Harrison
Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.
Opening Hook
Sometimes a person is so worried about getting into trouble that they are willing to do almost anything. They aren’t even concerned about what happens to those around them or the world. Their only thought is to save their own bacon.
Meaning
The phrase "save one’s bacon” means to avoid a difficult situation, avoid getting into trouble, or to avoid some form of danger or harm.
As a kid, whenever someone was trying to keep out of trouble, I remember adults saying that they were just trying to save their bacon. It didn’t quite make sense until I was older. And if I think about it logically… well, it still doesn’t really make that much sense. But that is what places this phrase solidly in the idiom category.
According to Oxford English Dictionary, to save one's bacon” means,
Quote
to escape injury to one's body, to keep oneself from harm
End quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bacon_n?tab=meaning_and_use#29934111
There is a similar phrase - to bring home the bacon. In this case, bacon is referring to money or accomplishments, so the phrase is more about being successful in some way or providing monetary or financial support and so on. There is a pretty clear difference, therefore, in the use and meaning of the two phrases, so we will primarily focus on save one’s bacon. And, to get us there, we will start by looking at the term bacon.
Bacon, a.k.a. Pig
The word bacon has been in use since at least the early 1300s in reference to various cuts of meat from a pig or pig carcasses and, less commonly, to refer to live pigs.
Around the late 1500s, the term bacon was used briefly in reference to people. According to Oxford English Dictionary, this use of “bacon” means,
Quote
A rustic, a clown, a ‘chaw-bacon.’
(Referring, like many of the compounds, to the fact of swine’s flesh being the meat chiefly consumed by the rural population of England.)
End quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bacon_n?tab=meaning_and_use#29934111
It was in the 1600s that we really began seeing the use of bacon in reference to a person’s life or flesh. And this is when we see our phrase appear in print as well.
1653
Here is an early example from The Works of Mr. Francis Rabelais, published in 1653. This particular work contains five books of the lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and his Son Pantagruel.
Quote
At last we began to fancy that we also heard something, or at least that our Ears tingled; and the more we listen'd, the plainer we discern'd the Voices, so as to distinguish Articulate Sounds. This mightily frighted us, and not without cause, since we could see nothing, yet heard such various Sounds and Voices of Men, Women, Children, Horses, etc. insomuch that Panurge cry'd out, Cods Belly, there 's no fooling with the Devil; … I never find my self to have a bit of Courage at Sea: In Cellars and elsewhere I have more than enough: Let 's fly, and save our Bacon.
End quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Works_of_Mr_Francis_Rabelais_Doctor/USmgAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=save+our+bacon&pg=PA246&printsec=frontcover
The phrase is used with the subject alternating from singular to plural including his, your, my, our… pretty much everyone is getting their bacon saved.
1710
We find the phrase in The Good Old Cause or Lying in Truth by Charles Leslie, published in 1710.
Quote
They will neither be Bully'd nor Wheedled from their Resolution and their Principles, by your Bug-Bear of having Something Else in View, which you Dare not Name, but would make a Secret of it! And, (according to your Usual Dexterity) have said so much on that Side, as you Hope may save your Head in a Rainy Day And, so much on the other, as to Save your Bacon there too.
End quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Good_Old_Cause_or_Lying_in_Truth_bei/2epBL8e5oCMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22save+your+bacon%22&pg=RA1-PA11&printsec=frontcover
That excerpt provides a clear example of the meaning as the phrases ‘save your head’ and ‘save your bacon’ are made equivalent in the sentence.
1793
The phrase appears in the May 15, 1793 edition of the National Gazette out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It contains the printing of, and extract of, a letter from Birmingham.
Quote
When once the old lion is down, every Jack-ass must have a kick at him! - After Tom Paine had been butchered in every petty village in the kingdom, it would have been a miracle indeed had he saved his bacon at Birmingham.
End quote
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025887/1793-05-15/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1756&index=0&rows=20&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=bacon+his+saved&proxdistance=5&date2=1800&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=save+his+bacon&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
1823
A mini story uses the phrase in the February 15, 1823 edition of the Herald of the Valley out of Fincastle, Virginia.
Quote
A captain of one of the British frigates, a man of undaunted bravery, had a natural antipathy to a cat. A sailor, who for some misconduct, had been ordered a flogging, saved his bacon by presenting to his captain the following petition: --
End quote
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83026162/1823-02-15/ed-1/seq-4/#date1=1800&index=3&rows=20&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=bacon+his+saved&proxdistance=5&date2=1825&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=save+his+bacon&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
The petition is fun in a satirical sort of way. And we’re going to read it in the bonus segment from our behind the scenes which airs every Friday for our patrons at patreon.com/bunnytrailspod.
1903
The Westminster Budget out of London, Middlesex, United Kingdom included a take of Alice in Wonderland and the white rabbit in a commentary piece about importing concerns. The satire contains a song that is sung by a pig at the request of the white rabbit. The song focuses on maize so I’ll just be reading the second verse of the song.
Quote
Beautiful Bacon! Who can feel,
Fond of mutton, beef, or veal?
Who would not fly, the world forsaken,
In order to save his beautiful Bacon?
In order to save his beautiful Bacon?
End quote
https://newspaperarchive.com/westminster-budget-dec-04-1903-p-15/
1935
The phrase finds its way into the ads of the past as well. It appeared in the January 25, 1935 edition of the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin out of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
In this case, the phrase is turned back around from the figurative use and turned on its head a little. The ad shows a man with a somewhat large carving knife - or perhaps a sword - who is chasing a pig. The pitch is for Manahan’s which is selling… naturally… bacon. We’ll include the image in the show notes which are available on patreon.com/bunnytrailspod
https://newspaperarchive.com/rockhampton-morning-bulletin-jan-25-1935-p-2/
Okay, we have several modern uses to cover and we’ll get to those, right after we say thank you to our sponsors.
A Quick Thank You
This episode is sponsored by our amazing Patrons on Patreon. And the cool thing about Patreon is it is 100% free to join the Bunny Trails community!
We have new things every weekday on the feeds. On Monday’s we have a conversation about what movies, shows, books, podcasts and whatever else everyone is enjoying, Tuesday see early access to the weeks podcast, Wednesdays have all the links, books, songs, and other content mentioned in the weeks episode, Thursday has patron’s only polls, and Friday’s are our lightly-edited behind the scenes video featuring all the cut content, goofs, and bonus facts you could imagine.
We’ve got some other pretty cool stuff, too, like Original Digital Artwork once a month, made by ME, and direct access to talk with us. No algorithm’s getting in the way of what we see or don’t see. Plus, you can get awesome name recognition like Pat Rowe does every episode. And our top spot is currently occupied by the amazing Mary Halsig Lopez.
You can join the Bunny Trails community for free at bunny trails pod on Patreon.
That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod
Modern Uses
1980s
Save your Bacon was a board game released by Peter pan games in the 1980s. So this vintage, but still sort of modern era. The tagline is: “A Pig of a Game!”
This game involves a simple round board with a sort of cone-shaped hay stack in the center. There are small plastic pig pieces that are added precariously to the tower to make a pile on top. Your task is to be the first to save 10 pigs from the mad dogs below. It looks… interesting.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/263577352957
https://youtu.be/NBEk84-wb-I?si=hFg1j5wb1TTOTdQR
Alright, let’s move to this century…
2010
Most of the uses in modern times are a turn of phrase or play on words. This is common in journalism and ads anyway, but I found it particularly true for this phrase.
One example is its use in the title of a 2010 IT World Canada article by Galen Gruman which is a rather long blog post with suggestions for the improvement of Microsoft’s status in the technology realm. The post is titled: “5 Ways Steve Ballmer Can Save Microsoft’s Mobile Bacon”. The article begins,
Quote
It appears that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has finally woken up and realized that Microsoft’s laughable mobile position is more than a product failure but a potential loss of relevance in the computing world of the future, where desktop PCs are like TVs and the real action is in mobile devices of all stripes.
End quote
https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/5-ways-steve-ballmer-can-save-microsofts-mobile-bacon/41574
Interestingly, the word bacon doesn’t appear in the rest of the post but we get the gist.
2013
The phrase was used in an ad in 2013 for a company called ClearPoint. The commercial song is called Penny Pincher - Trying to Save My Bacon. It’s a play on words in multiple ways as the character is a pig trying to trim the fat in the budget, save pennies, and also stay out of trouble… Here are some of the lyrics.
Quote
I use many tactics to try to save my bacon,
But the painful fact is
My money's always taken.
Clipping coupons, eating Spam,
Selling off a bit of ham,
Expired yogurt is a deal,
Depending how it makes you feel.
They call me Penny Pincher,
I'm trying to save my bacon,
Because I'm always juggling
The bills I need to pay—
Ugh, there's got to be a better way!
End quote
https://youtu.be/yIGVeO_kIB0?si=P3YhkEOsvTvyo-YV
2019
Saving my bacon is a book by Melanie Johnston that was released in 2019. Here is a synopsis.
Quote
Being a young and only child Claire finds herself talking to and making friends with the pigs on her “not so great” fathers farm. As she grows older she comes to realise that the pigs lives will be short unless she can escape and take them with her ….. and this is where her adventure begins.
Taking the pigs in the farm lorry she sets off on a journey to a new life. Finally ending up in a village that feels like “home”, with people that embrace her and her pigs and invite her to live on one of their farms. The locals are fascinated by her, and as she makes friends she begins to realise why, she has a gift, a special gift …….
This book would appeal to children that are animal lovers, and shows how much love animals can give in return.
End quote
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-my-bacon-Melanie-Johnston-ebook/dp/B0825WLW6B
Current
There are quite a few books and other items that are related to saving money that use the phrase “Save my bacon”. I found one item from the store MyMoneyMatters. They create budget trackers include savings challenges and other money management supports. The item I found is a laminated pouch designed to encourage saving money. It has an image of a frying pan on the front with various food items and says “Save my bacon” on the front. I’ve never used the cash method for budgeting but this is a cute design if that’s your sort of thing.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1575459355/save-my-bacon-save-35-savings-challenge?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=%26quot%3Bsave+my+bacon%26quot%3B&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sts=1&content_source=a8e3aaee56286f4ccfa04873d4dd667dec295c0d%253A1575459355&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1
Current
Save Your Bacon is an at-home escape room style game. The seller PrintableEscapeRoom on Etsy has this description:
Quote
Go hog wild with this printable escape room adventure for families, adults and teens! This sizzlin' game includes 13 challenges to solve in an immersive escape room atmosphere. Clues to the answers are on the wall, floor, or in envelopes players open as the game goes on. Ages 12 and up are ideal, and hints and detailed solutions are all included to make the adventure stress-free. Ideal for up to 6 players, and with larger groups you can print it out twice and have them race each other! A fun activity included at the end is sure to bring some laughs. Game play is about 60 minutes. Four fun bacon recipes included if you want to make them for a squealin' good time. If you're looking for a party that's high on the hog, this is it!
End quote
https://www.etsy.com/listing/959263474/escape-room-game-funny-bacon-adventure?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=%26quot%3Bsave+your+bacon%26quot%3B&ref=sc_gallery-1-6&sts=1&dd=1&search_preloaded_img=1&plkey=88ca504efbd51ca8a7792bdda050727b77e3d9ec%3A959263474
In the game, you play as the janitor at a factory that produces turkey bacon and apparently, you are attempting to save the world’s bacon from the wild plans of the factory’s CEO.
July 8, 2024
There is a trend that I noticed circulates every couple of years in which friends send cards or social media posts to one another that say something similar to “Thanks for always saving my bacon.” And Fresno State University took this a step further. A recent feature titled, “Faculty and staff high fives from June 19 - July 2” appeared in their campus news. The piece begins
Quote
Give your colleagues a “High Five” for things such as excellent customer service, “saving my bacon” and going above and beyond.
High Fives are easy to give — simply click “Give a High Five” and fill out the form for a faculty or staff member only. Your message will be delivered straight to the recipient's inbox, and they will be acknowledged weekly in Campus News.
Continue below to read about how your colleagues are going above and beyond to help the campus community.
End quote
Here is one of the responses under Saved my Bacon
Quote
Accounting Services
Cynthia and her Accounting team are the best. Whether it is assisting with a mistake made or finding where a payment is, they always help when asked. They are definitely among the hardest working with the least recognition. Thank you, Cynthia and team!
End quote
https://campusnews.fresnostate.edu/july-8-2024/faculty-and-staff-high-fives-from-june-19-july-2
Wrap up:
I love the positive shift this phrase has taken in more recent years. While some still use the phrase to describe selfish or desperate efforts, most people are using it to describe good things. Whether people are encouraging themselves or others to use money wisely or saying thanks to those who helped them out of a tight spot… saving someone’s bacon is amazing. We should all strive to be that friend for each other. And I hope you each have a friend who is there for you and ready to save your bacon.
Shauna:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod, or comment on our website, bunnytrailspod.com
Dan:
It’s patron poll time!
Recently we asked our Patrons,
Nuts in your banana bread or nah?
33% of voters said “Yes, nuts.” And 67% said “No, thank you.”
Jan said
Quote
Sure, bring it. I'm ok with nuts, raisins, coconut - all the controversial food options.
End quote
Heather shared
Quote
I'll abstain from voting because nuts: yeah, banana bread: nah. But other baked goods I'm good with, I especially like pecans and walnuts.
End quote
Shauna
Mary said
Quote
Sometimes yes, sometimes no for me. I bake quick breads or muffins about once a week so I like to mix things up. Sometimes I'll leave the banana/pumpkin/applesauce/whatever bread plain, sometimes I add walnuts and/or raisins and sometimes I'll even add chocolate chips, it all depends on my mood.
End quote
Dan and I are both on board with chocolate chips being added. That’s just delicious.
I’m almost always a no to nuts in my banana bread or any other baked goods… except pecan pie - which obviously has to have them. One thing I’m always a yes on… is vanilla ice cream. Or in my case - vanilla frozen dessert made from oat milk or coconut milk or cashew milk. But people aren’t usually talking about dairy alternatives when saying there are nuts in baked goods.
Emily said
Quote
Plain nuts as a snack please.
End quote
Dan:
I don't like nuts in my baked goods except maybe some peanuts in peanut butter cookies. I do like pistachios, almonds, and peanuts NOT in baked goods. So basically my answer is the same as Emily's.
As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!
Outro
Dan:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember,
Together:
Words belong to their users.
Episode 243: Save My Bacon
Record Date: August 3, 2024
Air Date: August 7, 2024
Intro
Dan:
Welcome to Bunny Trails, a whimsical adventure of idioms and other turns of phrase.
I’m Dan Pugh
Shauna:
And I’m Shauna Harrison
Each week we take an idiom or other turn of phrase and try to tell the story from its entry into the English language, to how it’s used today.
Opening Hook
Sometimes a person is so worried about getting into trouble that they are willing to do almost anything. They aren’t even concerned about what happens to those around them or the world. Their only thought is to save their own bacon.
Meaning
The phrase "save one’s bacon” means to avoid a difficult situation, avoid getting into trouble, or to avoid some form of danger or harm.
As a kid, whenever someone was trying to keep out of trouble, I remember adults saying that they were just trying to save their bacon. It didn’t quite make sense until I was older. And if I think about it logically… well, it still doesn’t really make that much sense. But that is what places this phrase solidly in the idiom category.
According to Oxford English Dictionary, to save one's bacon” means,
Quote
to escape injury to one's body, to keep oneself from harm
End quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bacon_n?tab=meaning_and_use#29934111
There is a similar phrase - to bring home the bacon. In this case, bacon is referring to money or accomplishments, so the phrase is more about being successful in some way or providing monetary or financial support and so on. There is a pretty clear difference, therefore, in the use and meaning of the two phrases, so we will primarily focus on save one’s bacon. And, to get us there, we will start by looking at the term bacon.
Bacon, a.k.a. Pig
The word bacon has been in use since at least the early 1300s in reference to various cuts of meat from a pig or pig carcasses and, less commonly, to refer to live pigs.
Around the late 1500s, the term bacon was used briefly in reference to people. According to Oxford English Dictionary, this use of “bacon” means,
Quote
A rustic, a clown, a ‘chaw-bacon.’
(Referring, like many of the compounds, to the fact of swine’s flesh being the meat chiefly consumed by the rural population of England.)
End quote
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/bacon_n?tab=meaning_and_use#29934111
It was in the 1600s that we really began seeing the use of bacon in reference to a person’s life or flesh. And this is when we see our phrase appear in print as well.
1653
Here is an early example from The Works of Mr. Francis Rabelais, published in 1653. This particular work contains five books of the lives, heroic deeds and sayings of Gargantua and his Son Pantagruel.
Quote
At last we began to fancy that we also heard something, or at least that our Ears tingled; and the more we listen'd, the plainer we discern'd the Voices, so as to distinguish Articulate Sounds. This mightily frighted us, and not without cause, since we could see nothing, yet heard such various Sounds and Voices of Men, Women, Children, Horses, etc. insomuch that Panurge cry'd out, Cods Belly, there 's no fooling with the Devil; … I never find my self to have a bit of Courage at Sea: In Cellars and elsewhere I have more than enough: Let 's fly, and save our Bacon.
End quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Works_of_Mr_Francis_Rabelais_Doctor/USmgAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=save+our+bacon&pg=PA246&printsec=frontcover
The phrase is used with the subject alternating from singular to plural including his, your, my, our… pretty much everyone is getting their bacon saved.
1710
We find the phrase in The Good Old Cause or Lying in Truth by Charles Leslie, published in 1710.
Quote
They will neither be Bully'd nor Wheedled from their Resolution and their Principles, by your Bug-Bear of having Something Else in View, which you Dare not Name, but would make a Secret of it! And, (according to your Usual Dexterity) have said so much on that Side, as you Hope may save your Head in a Rainy Day And, so much on the other, as to Save your Bacon there too.
End quote
https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Good_Old_Cause_or_Lying_in_Truth_bei/2epBL8e5oCMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22save+your+bacon%22&pg=RA1-PA11&printsec=frontcover
That excerpt provides a clear example of the meaning as the phrases ‘save your head’ and ‘save your bacon’ are made equivalent in the sentence.
1793
The phrase appears in the May 15, 1793 edition of the National Gazette out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It contains the printing of, and extract of, a letter from Birmingham.
Quote
When once the old lion is down, every Jack-ass must have a kick at him! - After Tom Paine had been butchered in every petty village in the kingdom, it would have been a miracle indeed had he saved his bacon at Birmingham.
End quote
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025887/1793-05-15/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1756&index=0&rows=20&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=bacon+his+saved&proxdistance=5&date2=1800&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=save+his+bacon&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
1823
A mini story uses the phrase in the February 15, 1823 edition of the Herald of the Valley out of Fincastle, Virginia.
Quote
A captain of one of the British frigates, a man of undaunted bravery, had a natural antipathy to a cat. A sailor, who for some misconduct, had been ordered a flogging, saved his bacon by presenting to his captain the following petition: --
End quote
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83026162/1823-02-15/ed-1/seq-4/#date1=1800&index=3&rows=20&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&words=bacon+his+saved&proxdistance=5&date2=1825&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=save+his+bacon&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
The petition is fun in a satirical sort of way. And we’re going to read it in the bonus segment from our behind the scenes which airs every Friday for our patrons at patreon.com/bunnytrailspod.
1903
The Westminster Budget out of London, Middlesex, United Kingdom included a take of Alice in Wonderland and the white rabbit in a commentary piece about importing concerns. The satire contains a song that is sung by a pig at the request of the white rabbit. The song focuses on maize so I’ll just be reading the second verse of the song.
Quote
Beautiful Bacon! Who can feel,
Fond of mutton, beef, or veal?
Who would not fly, the world forsaken,
In order to save his beautiful Bacon?
In order to save his beautiful Bacon?
End quote
https://newspaperarchive.com/westminster-budget-dec-04-1903-p-15/
1935
The phrase finds its way into the ads of the past as well. It appeared in the January 25, 1935 edition of the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin out of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
In this case, the phrase is turned back around from the figurative use and turned on its head a little. The ad shows a man with a somewhat large carving knife - or perhaps a sword - who is chasing a pig. The pitch is for Manahan’s which is selling… naturally… bacon. We’ll include the image in the show notes which are available on patreon.com/bunnytrailspod
https://newspaperarchive.com/rockhampton-morning-bulletin-jan-25-1935-p-2/
Okay, we have several modern uses to cover and we’ll get to those, right after we say thank you to our sponsors.
A Quick Thank You
This episode is sponsored by our amazing Patrons on Patreon. And the cool thing about Patreon is it is 100% free to join the Bunny Trails community!
We have new things every weekday on the feeds. On Monday’s we have a conversation about what movies, shows, books, podcasts and whatever else everyone is enjoying, Tuesday see early access to the weeks podcast, Wednesdays have all the links, books, songs, and other content mentioned in the weeks episode, Thursday has patron’s only polls, and Friday’s are our lightly-edited behind the scenes video featuring all the cut content, goofs, and bonus facts you could imagine.
We’ve got some other pretty cool stuff, too, like Original Digital Artwork once a month, made by ME, and direct access to talk with us. No algorithm’s getting in the way of what we see or don’t see. Plus, you can get awesome name recognition like Pat Rowe does every episode. And our top spot is currently occupied by the amazing Mary Halsig Lopez.
You can join the Bunny Trails community for free at bunny trails pod on Patreon.
That’s patreon.com/bunnytrailspod
Modern Uses
1980s
Save your Bacon was a board game released by Peter pan games in the 1980s. So this vintage, but still sort of modern era. The tagline is: “A Pig of a Game!”
This game involves a simple round board with a sort of cone-shaped hay stack in the center. There are small plastic pig pieces that are added precariously to the tower to make a pile on top. Your task is to be the first to save 10 pigs from the mad dogs below. It looks… interesting.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/263577352957
https://youtu.be/NBEk84-wb-I?si=hFg1j5wb1TTOTdQR
Alright, let’s move to this century…
2010
Most of the uses in modern times are a turn of phrase or play on words. This is common in journalism and ads anyway, but I found it particularly true for this phrase.
One example is its use in the title of a 2010 IT World Canada article by Galen Gruman which is a rather long blog post with suggestions for the improvement of Microsoft’s status in the technology realm. The post is titled: “5 Ways Steve Ballmer Can Save Microsoft’s Mobile Bacon”. The article begins,
Quote
It appears that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has finally woken up and realized that Microsoft’s laughable mobile position is more than a product failure but a potential loss of relevance in the computing world of the future, where desktop PCs are like TVs and the real action is in mobile devices of all stripes.
End quote
https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/5-ways-steve-ballmer-can-save-microsofts-mobile-bacon/41574
Interestingly, the word bacon doesn’t appear in the rest of the post but we get the gist.
2013
The phrase was used in an ad in 2013 for a company called ClearPoint. The commercial song is called Penny Pincher - Trying to Save My Bacon. It’s a play on words in multiple ways as the character is a pig trying to trim the fat in the budget, save pennies, and also stay out of trouble… Here are some of the lyrics.
Quote
I use many tactics to try to save my bacon,
But the painful fact is
My money's always taken.
Clipping coupons, eating Spam,
Selling off a bit of ham,
Expired yogurt is a deal,
Depending how it makes you feel.
They call me Penny Pincher,
I'm trying to save my bacon,
Because I'm always juggling
The bills I need to pay—
Ugh, there's got to be a better way!
End quote
https://youtu.be/yIGVeO_kIB0?si=P3YhkEOsvTvyo-YV
2019
Saving my bacon is a book by Melanie Johnston that was released in 2019. Here is a synopsis.
Quote
Being a young and only child Claire finds herself talking to and making friends with the pigs on her “not so great” fathers farm. As she grows older she comes to realise that the pigs lives will be short unless she can escape and take them with her ….. and this is where her adventure begins.
Taking the pigs in the farm lorry she sets off on a journey to a new life. Finally ending up in a village that feels like “home”, with people that embrace her and her pigs and invite her to live on one of their farms. The locals are fascinated by her, and as she makes friends she begins to realise why, she has a gift, a special gift …….
This book would appeal to children that are animal lovers, and shows how much love animals can give in return.
End quote
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-my-bacon-Melanie-Johnston-ebook/dp/B0825WLW6B
Current
There are quite a few books and other items that are related to saving money that use the phrase “Save my bacon”. I found one item from the store MyMoneyMatters. They create budget trackers include savings challenges and other money management supports. The item I found is a laminated pouch designed to encourage saving money. It has an image of a frying pan on the front with various food items and says “Save my bacon” on the front. I’ve never used the cash method for budgeting but this is a cute design if that’s your sort of thing.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1575459355/save-my-bacon-save-35-savings-challenge?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=%26quot%3Bsave+my+bacon%26quot%3B&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sts=1&content_source=a8e3aaee56286f4ccfa04873d4dd667dec295c0d%253A1575459355&search_preloaded_img=1&organic_search_click=1
Current
Save Your Bacon is an at-home escape room style game. The seller PrintableEscapeRoom on Etsy has this description:
Quote
Go hog wild with this printable escape room adventure for families, adults and teens! This sizzlin' game includes 13 challenges to solve in an immersive escape room atmosphere. Clues to the answers are on the wall, floor, or in envelopes players open as the game goes on. Ages 12 and up are ideal, and hints and detailed solutions are all included to make the adventure stress-free. Ideal for up to 6 players, and with larger groups you can print it out twice and have them race each other! A fun activity included at the end is sure to bring some laughs. Game play is about 60 minutes. Four fun bacon recipes included if you want to make them for a squealin' good time. If you're looking for a party that's high on the hog, this is it!
End quote
https://www.etsy.com/listing/959263474/escape-room-game-funny-bacon-adventure?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=%26quot%3Bsave+your+bacon%26quot%3B&ref=sc_gallery-1-6&sts=1&dd=1&search_preloaded_img=1&plkey=88ca504efbd51ca8a7792bdda050727b77e3d9ec%3A959263474
In the game, you play as the janitor at a factory that produces turkey bacon and apparently, you are attempting to save the world’s bacon from the wild plans of the factory’s CEO.
July 8, 2024
There is a trend that I noticed circulates every couple of years in which friends send cards or social media posts to one another that say something similar to “Thanks for always saving my bacon.” And Fresno State University took this a step further. A recent feature titled, “Faculty and staff high fives from June 19 - July 2” appeared in their campus news. The piece begins
Quote
Give your colleagues a “High Five” for things such as excellent customer service, “saving my bacon” and going above and beyond.
High Fives are easy to give — simply click “Give a High Five” and fill out the form for a faculty or staff member only. Your message will be delivered straight to the recipient's inbox, and they will be acknowledged weekly in Campus News.
Continue below to read about how your colleagues are going above and beyond to help the campus community.
End quote
Here is one of the responses under Saved my Bacon
Quote
Accounting Services
Cynthia and her Accounting team are the best. Whether it is assisting with a mistake made or finding where a payment is, they always help when asked. They are definitely among the hardest working with the least recognition. Thank you, Cynthia and team!
End quote
https://campusnews.fresnostate.edu/july-8-2024/faculty-and-staff-high-fives-from-june-19-july-2
Wrap up:
I love the positive shift this phrase has taken in more recent years. While some still use the phrase to describe selfish or desperate efforts, most people are using it to describe good things. Whether people are encouraging themselves or others to use money wisely or saying thanks to those who helped them out of a tight spot… saving someone’s bacon is amazing. We should all strive to be that friend for each other. And I hope you each have a friend who is there for you and ready to save your bacon.
Shauna:
That’s about all we have for today. If you have any thoughts on the show, or pop culture references we should have included, reach out to us on Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod, or comment on our website, bunnytrailspod.com
Dan:
It’s patron poll time!
Recently we asked our Patrons,
Nuts in your banana bread or nah?
33% of voters said “Yes, nuts.” And 67% said “No, thank you.”
Jan said
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Sure, bring it. I'm ok with nuts, raisins, coconut - all the controversial food options.
End quote
Heather shared
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I'll abstain from voting because nuts: yeah, banana bread: nah. But other baked goods I'm good with, I especially like pecans and walnuts.
End quote
Shauna
Mary said
Quote
Sometimes yes, sometimes no for me. I bake quick breads or muffins about once a week so I like to mix things up. Sometimes I'll leave the banana/pumpkin/applesauce/whatever bread plain, sometimes I add walnuts and/or raisins and sometimes I'll even add chocolate chips, it all depends on my mood.
End quote
Dan and I are both on board with chocolate chips being added. That’s just delicious.
I’m almost always a no to nuts in my banana bread or any other baked goods… except pecan pie - which obviously has to have them. One thing I’m always a yes on… is vanilla ice cream. Or in my case - vanilla frozen dessert made from oat milk or coconut milk or cashew milk. But people aren’t usually talking about dairy alternatives when saying there are nuts in baked goods.
Emily said
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Plain nuts as a snack please.
End quote
Dan:
I don't like nuts in my baked goods except maybe some peanuts in peanut butter cookies. I do like pistachios, almonds, and peanuts NOT in baked goods. So basically my answer is the same as Emily's.
As a reminder, our silly polls mean absolutely nothing and are not scientifically valid. And patrons of all levels, including our free tiers, can take part. Head over to patreon.com/bunnytrailspod to take this week’s poll!
Outro
Dan:
Thanks for joining us. We’ll talk to you again next week. Until then remember,
Together:
Words belong to their users.
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