Search found 66 matches
- Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:31 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: .. word order .. does it really matter?? [bungled oath -- Forum Mod.]
- Replies: 17
- Views: 4972
Re: .. word order .. does it really matter??
Hello after a long gap in time from my last appearance on the old site Wiz. They've got this one nailed, the slip has been rectified I just heard. An impromptu reswearing in camera I believe, no loose chad left unturned this time. Frank
- Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:55 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Hey Prescott
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4094
Hey Prescott
John Prescott is the British Deputy Prime Minister; he has just been reported in the "popular press" as one who had difficulty keeping his trousers zipped. He owns two Jaguar cars, and is known by the nickname, "Two Jags". He has already been renamed in a pre-emptive strike in a tabloid headline I ...
- Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:33 pm
- Forum: Oh, and have you read...?
- Topic: John Peel, margrave of the marshes
- Replies: 4
- Views: 5234
John Peel, margrave of the marshes
Not read this yet but would have been disposed to do so as an OLD fan of Mr Ravenscroft. We had a boy at my school of this surname and I wondered. Loving biography this will be a must for me if I needed further encouragement, which I don't, so enjoyed reading your review Phil, I liked the aforementi...
- Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:17 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: cream teas
- Replies: 19
- Views: 7318
cream teas
Seeing WOZ's post prompts memory of one of the best Devon teas I ever had of way too many, in Australia on the heights of Paluma Range, Queensland in a touristy cafe. Maybe it was the elevation or elation of the exotic location and being with a transplanted English rose, my sister. Good day Wozzer. ...
- Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:57 am
- Forum: No, wait. Don't tell me
- Topic: A new Christmas Menace
- Replies: 0
- Views: 3334
A new Christmas Menace
Did you hear a shopping mall banned the store Santa 'cos they don't allow hoodies?
- Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:50 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: Peas
- Replies: 5
- Views: 6647
Peas
Sort of related to the previous discourse and a very uninformed question as it dovetails with what I heard or probably misheard. The wrong pluralising aspect alluded to reminded me as a non-philological chap of the coined modern construct term workaholic - I searched here for alcoholic (no definitio...
- Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:02 pm
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: two times
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6303
two times
Nice one Haro, I for one certainly could not think why exactly but twicing would be uneuphonious if that's a word. Cheers - FRANKharo wrote: Languages hardly ever are logical. Why do we say 'two-timing' instead of 'twicing'? A bit off topic, I know, but interesting![]()
- Sat Aug 13, 2005 8:05 pm
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: two times
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6303
two times
this may seem awkward for 2, does it seem less awkward when you get to "Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, ..." The pattern holds even when you get to numbers that have no corresponding term... 72, 1433, etc. Well this was hardly my point or query, I was saying the phrases "o...
- Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:19 pm
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: two times
- Replies: 11
- Views: 6303
two times
I was wondering about this query for some time, I don't know if it's worth discussing. I saw use of the phrase "two times" in Time Mag. maybe, or think I heard an American commentator say: "Tiger Woods two times winner of the British Open at The Old Course". It's a USA thing definitely, I have notic...
- Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:51 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: chuffed
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5857
chuffed
[quote] Originally posted by pingpong fan [quote] Originally posted by Ken Greenwald Is that the NAAFI you refer to and could you expand a little on the meaning of ‘NAAFI breaks’ and perhaps the origin of your above statement? My brother tells me, in National Service the men said "chuffed to NAAFI b...
- Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:04 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: chuffed
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5857
chuffed
[quote] Originally posted by Ken Greenwald Is that the NAAFI you refer to and could you expand a little on the meaning of ‘NAAFI breaks’ and perhaps the origin of your above statement? _______________________ Ken - I have been off line for a while, or would have got back to you sooner. It was a bit ...
- Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:17 am
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Old Dart
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5727
Old Dart
You are teases gents. If the WoZ does not respond to the boomerangman signal I flashed, because he's at a barbie or, some other cultural festival all those miles away I'd be chufffed to old NAAFI breaks for any input. Erik, how droll, even with your own stand-up stage now for jokes you go the extra ...
- Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:07 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Old Dart
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5727
Old Dart
Heard on a TV quiz (yes I do watch more than is good) but it did at least provide fodder for thought in this case. No derivation was cited but it was defined as an antipodean term for the "old country". From a little research one source suggested it was a corruption of the old dirt of the mother cou...
- Fri Jul 22, 2005 1:40 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: hole in the wall
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4865
hole in the wall
I cannot add to the brilliant etymology on this thread which is fascinating. Someone mentioned the pub in Whitehall, ah I remember it well from when I worked at County Hall for the GLC. I trust and hope it is still there, but as the mud of memory has been stirred I recall regularly seeing Buster Edw...
- Mon Jul 18, 2005 9:48 pm
- Forum: Miscellaneous
- Topic: The Time Machine - H.G. Wells (2)
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7147
The Time Machine - H.G. Wells (2)
Anyone...at all?! Such a plaintive plea I felt even I might respond. You will be lucky to get a definitive answer to this one. Unless the great man explained his authorial motivations somewhere any theories expressed about the issue would be speculative surmise. I liked a young reviewer's opinion t...