When immigrants came to the U.S. from various lands, they strove to become thoroughly American. It became common practice to speak only English in the presence of the children.
However, one expression Norwegian immigrants found it impossible to shed was "Uff Da!". The term sounds just like what it seeks to convey.....disgruntlement.
It is a perfectly polite expression which may be used in place of various vulgarisms employed to evince displeasure.
In Norway, Charlie Brown says, "Uff Da!" instead of "Good grief!".
************************
Lena is pregnant with Ole's child. Late one night, Lena vakes Ole and says, "I think it's time!"
So Ole fired up the Yohn Deere tractor and took her to the hospital to have their first baby.She had a little boy, and the doctor looked over at Ole and said, "A son! Ain't dat great!"
Well, Ole got excited by dis, but yust den the doctor spoke up and said, "Hold on!" We ain't finished yet!"
The doctor den held up a little girl. He said, "Hey, Ole! You got you a daughter! She's a pretty little ting , too."
Ole got kind of puzzled by this, an then the doctor said, "Holey Moley, Ole we still ain't done yet!"
The doctor then delivered another boy and said, "Ole, you yust had yourself another boy!"
Ole was flabbergasted by this news!
A couple of days later, Ole brought Lena and their three children home in a self-propelled combine.
He was real serious and he asked Lena, "How come we got tree on the first try?"
Lena said, "You remember dat night we ran out of Vaseline and you vent out in the garage and got dat dere 3-in-1 Oil?"
Ole said, "Yeah, I do. Uff Da! It's a dam good thing I didn't get the WD-40!"
