Can’t get blood from a stone

A rounded stone in liquid.

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Saying: Can’t get blood from a stone

One of the first things I learned growing up in a large family is that you can’t get blood from a stone or turnip if you prefer to say turnip.

There was rarely any money for extra-curricular activities such as ice skating at a rink, movies, fast food or curling. (Hey, I am Canadian, after all.)


You can’t get blood from a stone means it’s hard to convince someone to give you something if they don’t have it or want to give it to you.


You can’t get blood from a stone means it is very challenging to convince someone to give you something such as money if they don’t have it or don’t want to give it to you.

Now, I’m sure my parents would have given us the money for the things we wanted if they had had it, but they gave us the things we needed, which was the best they could do.

The funny part is even though I turned 48 this week, I still find myself in the same situation.

The only difference is now, instead of my mother telling me no, it’s my wife.

My wife tells me no, whether it’s a big four-wheel drive, my own personal mountain or a 3D TV (remember those?).

I tell you, I can’t get blood from a stone.

If you ever tell her, I said that I would deny it to my dying day.

No, she doesn’t read this blog, so as long as you don’t tell her, I’m as safe as houses.

Anyways, most of you have been in a similar situation, I’m sure.

You tried to convince someone to give you something, but they flat-out denied you.

Try as hard, and you might; you can’t get blood from a stone or a turnip.

Come to think of it, it might be easier to get blood from a stone than it is from a wife, any wife.

They’re all the same, aren’t they?


Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test

This post is understandable by someone with at least a 6th-grade education (age 11).

On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 81.

The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.



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