If your mother still had her mangle your ears wouldn't be wet.
Something like that.
Mark the flat-eared.
At 08:32 AM 5/8/2009, you wrote:
>I knew I could count on you, Martin. Since it is plainly evident about
>laziness with you, and with all people, it is a picker and a chooser; we
>will hack away with great burrowed delight at what we love doing whilst
>ignoring all else. It's much like the helpfully true saw that my
>Canadian-born mom used to say, years before I knew what 'pound' meant:
> "Penny wise and pound foolish." I've met no one who's an exception to
>that, btw.
>So, now, tie the mangle and the wet ear expressions together, will you? I'm
>yet unable to do it, but feel that somewhere there's a connection.
>
>You knew I'd have more assignments for you, didn't you?
>
>Best,
>
>Judy
>
>2009/5/8 Martin Walker <[log in to unmask]>
>
> > How did you know that I am lazy, Judy - you are quite right. It is my
> > defining characteristic, after intuitive understanding, wit and orneriness
> > (US term). Dang it.
> > My mother never sold her mangle, she dumped it when she finally got a
> > washing machine. I loved that mangle. Never did like all those new-fangled
> > gadgets.
> > Wet behind the ears comes from ranches, cowboys (a lot of them black but
> > not
> > in westerns) check behind ears of calves to see if they were recently born,
> > thus proving something or other.
> > mj
> > Creator - A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh.
> > H.L.Mencken
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Judy Prince
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 1:07 PM
> > Subject: Re: question (UK)
> >
> >
> > Oh, Martin, I should've known that it, too, is a British term. Do
> > USAmericans have any original thoughts?! <wail weep gnash>
> > Judy who wonders about the expressions "wet behind the ears" and "Has your
> > mother sold her mangle yet?" Justin Case you wish to further research, you
> > lazy bloke.
> >
> > 2009/5/8 Martin Walker <[log in to unmask]>
> >
> > > I've come in late on this grisly question: my Shorter Oxford says [abbr.
> > by
> > > me]
> > > Guy [...] 1806 1. An effigy of Guy Fawkes [...] 2. A person of grotesque
> > > looks or dress; a fright 1836. 3. A man, fellow (US Slang) 1896.
> > > I've always preferred the second of these - as in "Grisly guys some of
> > them
> > > turn out" 1836.
> > > mj
> > > Creator - A comedian whose audience is afraid to laugh.
> > > H.L.Mencken
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Judy Prince
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 10:46 AM
> > > Subject: Re: question (UK)
> > >
> > >
> > > All y'all bloody blokes, and not the one of ya knows it's a USAmerican
> > > stoopid term ["guy"]. The other two terms, chap and bloke, originate
> > from
> > > England.
> > > Judy
> > >
> > > 2009/5/8 David Bircumshaw <[log in to unmask]>
> > >
> > > > Same here in Leicester. The place is swimming with 'blokes'. 'chap'
> > isn't
> > > > ubiquitous, you hear of him now and gain, but as for 'guy', well, I
> > > haven't
> > > > seen him in ages. I wondered how he was doing: so he's found himself a
> > > spot
> > > > in the TLS then?
> > > > best
> > > >
> > > > dave
> > > >
> > > > 2009/5/8 Mark Weiss <[log in to unmask]>
> > > >
> > > > > "Bloke" is alive and well in Glasgow.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > At 09:49 PM 5/7/2009, you wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >> when were "chap" and "bloke" replaced by the ubiquitous and
> > classless
> > > > >> "guy"?
> > > > >>
> > > > >> question asked by reviewer in the current TLS online
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > >> This email was sent from Netspace Webmail:
> > http://www.netspace.net.au
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > David Bircumshaw
> > > > "Nothing can be done in the face
> > > > of ordinary unhappiness" - PP
> > > > Website and A Chide's Alphabet
> > > > http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
> > > > The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
> > > > Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk
> > > >
> > >
> >
|