so it goes
KS
On 14/01/2008, judy prince <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> At first it seemed ok to me, too, K, but it doesn't factor in older phrases
> I'd remembered from previous research that use "buy" to mean death. Here's
> a URL that seems more credible:
> http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/comments/buy_the_farm/
>
> Judy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "kasper salonen" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 5:35 AM
> Subject: Re: untranslateable phrases
>
>
> > Judy thanks, the farm's been haunting me
> >
> > KS
> >
> > On 14/01/2008, judy prince <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> Might be of further interest, Mark:
> >>
> >> In 1956 from HEFLIN author _USAF Dictionary_, p 198:
> >>
> >> " 'Buy a farm' - to crash . . . This expression is in allusion to the
> >> notion
> >> that the owner of a farm takes advantage of a crash on his land to
> >> collect
> >> heavy damages."
> >>
> >> In 1955, _AS_ XXX, p 116:
> >>
> >> "'Buy the farm, buy a plot' Crash fatally. (Jet pilots say that when a
> >> jet
> >> crashes on a farm the farmer usually sues the government for damages done
> >> to
> >> his farm by the crash, and the amount demanded is always more than enough
> >> to
> >> pay off the mortgage and then buy the farm outright. Since this type of
> >> crash {i.e., in a jet fighter} is nearly always fatal to the pilot, the
> >> pilot pays for the farm with his life.)"'
> >>
> >> Judy
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
> >> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 7:07 PM
> >> Subject: untranslateable phrases
> >>
> >>
> >> > Or, j'en ai marre, j'en ai ras-le-bol (or just ras).
> >> >
> >> > But it was a serious question about the history of what I assume are
> >> > Americanisms. Really. Robin?
> >> >
> >> > Mark
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>That should be "je n'en peut plus supporter," natch. Way rusty in
> >> >>French.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>>Well, meaningless if translated directly, though there are ways to
> >> >>>say
> >> >>>them in the argot of other languages.
> >> >>>
> >> >>>I'm curious about the origins of:
> >> >>>
> >> >>>I've had it (je l'ai tenue?), in both its meanings--I can't put up
> >> >>>with
> >> >>>any more of this (je ne peut plus supporter ceci), and I've bought the
> >> >>>farm (j'ai achete la ferme)
> >> >>>
> >> >>>I've been had (j'ai ete eu?)
> >> >>>
> >> >>>Mark
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >
>
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