My inspiration for this idiom is of course the old saying ‘to bang your head against a brick wall’. However, striking a wall, although definitely more painful, entails a much quicker resolution. You’re not stuck in a state of uncertainty because you find out straight away: it‘s either your head or the damned wall. And everything becomes bright and clear even though you’ve knocked yourself out.
Matters don’t reach such a bloody head in the case of pudding, nor are they resolved so quickly. Banging your head against pudding is like this: you go through life with your head stuck out in front expecting a fight, like a ram. You bash down some hurdles into the dust; but avoid others – just in case. Suddenly your head comes into contact with gunk. The glugging goo softly cushions the impact, giving way to your blow. However, when you pull your head back, bewildered by the unusual sensation, the pudding returns to its place. Ripples on the surface spr