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So you're in flight with your wireless notebook, ready to do some serious work when inexplicably your computer connects with the guy's two rows up, as he sends his girlfriend a note. Wouldn't you know their names are John and Mary. Well that's boring, so I'm changing them to Boris and Natasha.

Well forget all that. And forget the fact that you're eavesdropping on two lovers as they eagerly await their reunion after being apart for a year. Forget all that because you are a puzzle solver. You're much more concerned with the strangeness of the English language. Really. Because it's filled with phrases and stuff that either imply something nonsensical or logically mean the opposite of what's intended.

So, secretly hoping one day to become a highly paid copy editor, you comb through Boris' note looking for English-isms.

How many can you find?

Time to get picky!

And most of all, Enjoy.

Aha - by popular demand [see following posts] here are a few examples of "Englishisms"

Daylight Savings Time - not a second of daylight is actually saved here.

The first century BC - this meaning is never what is meant. Usually people mean the last century, B.C.

Underwater - things we call underwater are actually surrounded by it.

I lucked out. Sounds like you're out of luck. Maybe it should be I lucked in?

I'm speaking tongue in cheek. How can anyone understand you?

Hope that helps.

--------------

Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop.

I had to watch my head coming through the boarding door. Either I'm

still growing, or they're making these planes smaller every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater delivery, and then I hit a huge

bottleneck of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time.

But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight; so I'll actually be in

town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here

I am, literally glued to my seat as I watch a near miss with an

incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you. Some

people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been

whispering behind my back that we we're just a one night stand. I

could care less what they think. I'm head over heels in love, and

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see you. And now it's happening!

I'll arrive none too soon!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of

coffee and some powdered donut holes are a meal! But you know

me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too.

Did I tell you I interviewed for a new position? Yesterday afternoon.

I did everything I could to put my best foot forward, and I'm really

hopeful. My boss is such a dweeb. He does everything a** backwards.

Last year he let three of my great ideas fall between the cracks,

and then resurrected them and pretended they were his own!

Oh my gosh! Jeter scored all the way from first on a hit and run play!

Girardi has those Yankees playing small ball this year. Maybe we'll

get #28 in November - ya think? Sorry for the distraction; the game's

on in-flight TV. What? Can you believe it? Newsflash just in; some

nameless administration official just announced that Bush is revoking

the presidential term limits. No way that can happen!

Ah, the captain has announced our landing approach. I'll send this,

log off, and soon you'll be in my arms. I can hardly wait!

XXOOXX

- Boris

[1] I had to watch my head - how would you do that?

[2] hot water heater - why bother? it's a cold water heater

[3] hit a huge bottleneck - aren't bottlenecks worst when they're small?

[4] non-stop flight - stay away from these flights!!

[5] literally glued to my seat - figuratively, or just glued - it's a self-generating metaphor

[6] a near miss - a near miss is a collision isn't it? A close call is a near hit.

[7] I've so missed not seeing you - don't you mean I missed seeing you?

[8] whispering behind my back - where else would they? in front of your back?

[9] a one night stand - think about it: who's standing?

[10] I could care less - I couldn't care less is what's meant.

[11] head over heels in love - Let's see, isn't that where your head usually is?

[12] go to the ends of the earth - yah, like, it's a sphere, isn't it?

[13] a hot cup of coffee - don't you mean a cup of hot coffee? why heat a cup?

[14] powdered doughnut holes - try to imagine powdering [or eating] a hole.

[15] have my cake and eat it too - uh, actually, eat my cake and [then] have it, too.

[16] put my best foot forward - let's see, I have a good foot, a better foot, maybe, but which one would be best?

[17] does everything a** backwards - can you imagine doing anything a** forwards???

[18] fall between the cracks - that would mean hitting the floor, right? maybe fall into the cracks.

[19] a hit and run play - everyone knows it's a run and hit play.

[20] nameless administration official - c'mon, everyone has a name. he's an unnamed offcial.

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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop.

I had to watch my head coming through the boarding door. Either I'm

still growing, or they're making these planes smaller every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater delivery, and then I hit a huge

bottleneck of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time.

But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight; so I'll actually be in

town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here

I am, literally glued to my seat as I watch a near miss with an

incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you. Some

people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been

whispering behind my back that we we're just a one night stand. I

could care less what they think. I'm head over heels in love, and

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see you. And now it's happening!

I'll arrive none too soon!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of

coffee and some powdered donut holes are a meal! But you know

me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too.

Did I tell you I interviewed for a new position? Yesterday afternoon.

I did everything I could to put my best foot forward, and I'm really

hopeful. My boss is such a dweeb. He does everything a** backwards.

Last year he let three of my great ideas fall between the cracks,

and then resurrected them and pretended they were his own!

Oh my gosh! Jeter scored all the way from first on a hit and run play!

Girardi has those Yankees playing small ball this year. Maybe we'll

get #28 in November - ya think? Sorry for the distraction; the game's

on in-flight TV. What? Can you believe it? Newsflash just in; some

nameless administration official just announced that Bush is revoking

the presidential term limits. No way that can happen!

Ah, the captain has announced our landing approach. I'll send this,

log off, and soon you'll be in my arms. I can hardly wait!

XXOOXX

- Boris

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Good questions.

I'll edit a few examples of what I mean back into the OP.

Thanks.

OK they're added. Hope it helps.

And spoilers would be good.

Check out what onetruth did - without reading it, of course B))

He quoted the post and highlighted the relevant passages.

Any way you like. ;)

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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop.

I had to watch my head coming through the boarding door. Either I'm

still growing, or they're making these planes smaller every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater delivery, and then I hit a huge

bottleneck of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time.

But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight; so I'll actually be in

town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here

I am, literally glued to my seat as I watch a near miss with an

incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you. Some

people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been

whispering behind my back that we we're just a one night stand. I

could care less what they think. I'm head over heels in love, and

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see you. And now it's happening!

I'll arrive none too soon!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of

coffee and some powdered donut holes are a meal! But you know

me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too.

Did I tell you I interviewed for a new position? Yesterday afternoon.

I did everything I could to put my best foot forward, and I'm really

hopeful. My boss is such a dweeb. He does everything a** backwards.

Last year he let three of my great ideas fall between the cracks,

and then resurrected them and pretended they were his own!

Oh my gosh! Jeter scored all the way from first on a hit and run play!

Girardi has those Yankees playing small ball this year. Maybe we'll

get #28 in November - ya think? Sorry for the distraction; the game's

on in-flight TV. What? Can you believe it? Newsflash just in; some

nameless administration official just announced that Bush is revoking

the presidential term limits. No way that can happen!

Ah, the captain has announced our landing approach. I'll send this,

log off, and soon you'll be in my arms. I can hardly wait!

XXOOXX

- Boris

All the colors mean the same thing. I'm sure I missed some, I wouldn't be surprised if Dearest or Boris were ones =)

Edited by bonanova
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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop.

I had to watch my head coming through the boarding door. Either I'm

still growing, or they're making these planes smaller every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater delivery, and then I hit a huge

bottleneck of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time.

But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight; so I'll actually be in

town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here

I am, literally glued to my seat as I watch a near miss with an

incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you. Some

people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been

whispering behind my back that we we're just a one night stand. I

could care less what they think. I'm head over heels in love, and

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see you. And now it's happening!

I'll arrive none too soon!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of

coffee and some powdered donut holes are a meal! But you know

me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too.

Did I tell you I interviewed for a new position? Yesterday afternoon.

I did everything I could to put my best foot forward, and I'm really

hopeful. My boss is such a dweeb. He does everything a** backwards.

Last year he let three of my great ideas fall between the cracks,

and then resurrected them and pretended they were his own!

Oh my gosh! Jeter scored all the way from first on a hit and run play!

Girardi has those Yankees playing small ball this year. Maybe we'll

get #28 in November - ya think? Sorry for the distraction; the game's

on in-flight TV. What? Can you believe it? Newsflash just in; some

nameless administration official just announced that Bush is revoking

the presidential term limits. No way that can happen!

Ah, the captain has announced our landing approach. I'll send this,

log off, and soon you'll be in my arms. I can hardly wait!

XXOOXX

- Boris

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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop[obviously not really on the laptop]. I had to watch my head [how do you do that?] coming through the boarding door [that would hurt]. Either I'm still growing, or they're making these planes smaller [no, the planes really do shrink] every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater [why heat hot water?] delivery, and then I hit a huge bottleneck [wouldn’t a larger neck let more through?] of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time. But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight [eventually you’ll run out of gas and crash]; so I'll actually be in town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here I am, literally glued [just bad English to invoke the anti-metaphorical “literally”] to my seat as I watch a near miss [sounds like a collision to me] with an incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you [more bad English with the double negative]. Some people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been whispering behind my back [turn around and you’ll catch ‘em!] that we we're just a one night stand [i suppose it could have been standing]. I could care less [how much do you care now?] what they think. I'm head over heels in love [i take it he’s standing up?], and I'd go to the ends of the earth [pretty sure they knew the Earth was round before this metaphor caught on] to see you. And now it's happening! I'll arrive none too soon [does that mean no sooner than he should arrive? probably a safe bet]!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of coffee and some powdered donut holes [i agree – holes are not very filling] are a meal! But you know me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too [i’m the same way! I always eat my cake.]

... out of time ...

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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop.

I had to watch my head coming through the boarding door. Either I'm

still growing, or they're making these planes smaller every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater delivery, and then I hit a huge

bottleneck of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time.

But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight; so I'll actually be in

town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here

I am, literally glued to my seat as I watch a near miss with an

incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you. Some

people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been

whispering behind my back that we we're just a one night stand. I

could care less what they think. I'm head over heels in love, and

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see you. And now it's happening!

I'll arrive none too soon!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of

coffee and some powdered donut holes are a meal! But you know

me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too.

Did I tell you I interviewed for a new position? Yesterday afternoon.

I did everything I could to put my best foot forward, and I'm really

hopeful. My boss is such a dweeb. He does everything a** backwards.

Last year he let three of my great ideas fall between the cracks,

and then resurrected them and pretended they were his own!

Oh my gosh! Jeter scored all the way from first on a hit and run play!

Girardi has those Yankees playing small ball this year. Maybe we'll

get #28 in November - ya think? Sorry for the distraction; the game's

on in-flight TV. What? Can you believe it? Newsflash just in; some

nameless administration official just announced that Bush is revoking

the presidential term limits. No way that can happen!

Ah, the captain has announced our landing approach. I'll send this,

log off, and soon you'll be in my arms. I can hardly wait!

XXOOXX

- Boris

onethruth found 12 of the 20 "official" English- ;) isms [all but 2 4 5 7 8 13 14 and 20]

He also had 12 misses ... guesses that weren't on the official list. :blush:

I'll post the solutions to the spoiler in the OP when they're all found.

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All the colors mean the same thing. I'm sure I missed some, I wouldn't be surprised if Dearest or Boris were ones =)

Itachi-san found 18 of the 20 official English-isms. [all by 5 and 15]

He also guessed 31 that weren't on the official list.

That's most likely because the OP did an imprecise job of defining what we're looking for.

But it's possibly also true that "Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while." ;)

Just kidding - I will have my fun. B))

Good job.

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Itachi-san found 18 of the 20 official English-isms. [all by 5 and 15]

He also guessed 31 that weren't on the official list.

That's most likely because the OP did an imprecise job of defining what we're looking for.

But it's possibly also true that "Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while." ;)

Just kidding - I will have my fun. B))

Good job.

HAHA! Fine, I'll make an explanation post, just give me a week. ;)

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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop.

I had to watch my head coming through the boarding door. Either I'm

still growing, or they're making these planes smaller every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater delivery, and then I hit a huge

bottleneck of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time.

But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight; so I'll actually be in

town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here

I am, literally glued to my seat as I watch a near miss with an

incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you. Some

people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been

whispering behind my back that we we're just a one night stand. I

could care less what they think. I'm head over heels in love, and

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see you. And now it's happening!

I'll arrive none too soon!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of

coffee and some powdered donut holes are a meal! But you know

me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too.

Did I tell you I interviewed for a new position? Yesterday afternoon.

I did everything I could to put my best foot forward, and I'm really

hopeful. My boss is such a dweeb. He does everything a** backwards.

Last year he let three of my great ideas fall between the cracks,

and then resurrected them and pretended they were his own!

Oh my gosh! Jeter scored all the way from first on a hit and run play!

Girardi has those Yankees playing small ball this year. Maybe we'll

get #28 in November - ya think? Sorry for the distraction; the game's

on in-flight TV. What? Can you believe it? Newsflash just in; some

nameless administration official just announced that Bush is revoking

the presidential term limits. No way that can happen!

Ah, the captain has announced our landing approach. I'll send this,

log off, and soon you'll be in my arms. I can hardly wait!

XXOOXX

- Boris

Nikyma Got 19/20 ;) missing only [13]

with only 14 guesses not on the official list, she is the first to register a positive score! :)

Some perfectly OK English-isms, that have understandable, logical meanings are in the mix to keep us all "honest."

A mine field to navigate, so to speak.

Great job.

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Dearest Natasha,

We just boarded, and I have time to send you this note on my laptop[obviously not really on the laptop]. I had to watch my head [how do you do that?] coming through the boarding door [that would hurt]. Either I'm still growing, or they're making these planes smaller [no, the planes really do shrink] every year.

I had to wait for a hot water heater [why heat hot water?] delivery, and then I hit a huge bottleneck [wouldn’t a larger neck let more through?] of traffic coming to the airport and barely made it on time. But I was fortunate to get a non-stop flight [eventually you’ll run out of gas and crash]; so I'll actually be in town earlier than planned.

Wow! we just took off, and it was white knuckles all the way. Here I am, literally glued [just bad English to invoke the anti-metaphorical “literally”] to my seat as I watch a near miss [sounds like a collision to me] with an incoming plane out my window!

I can hardly wait to get there. I've so missed not seeing you [more bad English with the double negative]. Some people at work, who apparently have nothing better to do, have been whispering behind my back [turn around and you’ll catch ‘em!] that we we're just a one night stand [i suppose it could have been standing]. I could care less [how much do you care now?] what they think. I'm head over heels in love [i take it he’s standing up?], and I'd go to the ends of the earth [pretty sure they knew the Earth was round before this metaphor caught on] to see you. And now it's happening! I'll arrive none too soon [does that mean no sooner than he should arrive? probably a safe bet]!

The snacks on these flights are ridiculous. They think a hot cup of coffee and some powdered donut holes [i agree – holes are not very filling] are a meal! But you know me, I'm rarely satisfied; I want to have my cake and eat it too [i’m the same way! I always eat my cake.]

... out of time ...

Wow!!! Duh Puck rings the bell. :o

He got 14/15 with spot-on explanations [missing only #13] with only three non-official guesses!

Running out of time, he did not get to the text with the last five.

Great job.! ;)

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Explanations:

just boarded: can mean recent or is happening currently

i have time: you can't own or hold time

on my laptop: it's not on it

i had to: no one has to do anything

watch my head: pretty obvious (no mirrors)

through the boarding door: through a solid door?

still growing: redundant

had to wait: no one has to do anything

hot water heater: not a cooler obviously

hit traffic: didn't actually collide

huge bottleneck: oxymoron

barely made it on time: you can't be on top of time

non-stop flight: i hope they don't stop while their flying

in town: in town or on the town? - questionable

just took off: just recent or current, also took off or up?

white knuckles: maybe I'm wrong here, but don't they turn red?

glued to my seat: easy one

near miss: also easy

out my window: through, not out

can hardly wait: either you can wait or you can't

missed not seeing you: missed seeing you

at work: at is present, but they are not at work now

have nothing better to do: than explain myself to bonanova

whispering behind my back: kind of pointless, do it in another room

one night stand: should be one night lay

could care less: should be couldn't care less

head over heels: easy

in love: should be have love

ends of the earth: easy

now it's happening: redundant to say now

none too soon: he would like to arrive asap

on these flights: the snacks aren't on top of the plane

hot cup of coffee: maybe a hot cup of iced coffee would be good right now

donut holes: easy, a hole is nothing

rarely satisfied: if satisfaction is rare, then dissatisfaction must be satisfactory - questionable

new position: would he interview for a current position?

yesterday afternoon: noon is today after noon, but yesterday - stretching here

best foot forward: easy to get, unless he has club foot

really hopeful: redundant. "I'm filled with hope." "Really filled though?" "Yes. Really hopeful."

@ss backwards: easy enough

great ideas is a typo - my bad (I edited my answer like 4 times) and still needed a second post

fall through the cracks - easy

my gosh: possessive? his gosh?

on a hit and run play: should be because or by a hit and run play

small ball: they're in the majors (big league)

in November: inside of November?

on in-flight tv: on top of the tv

Can you believe it?: i just feel like this sounds funny I guess =) maybe cause of all the english-isms i've been subjected to

Newsflash just in: redundant

nameless: should be anonymous

No way that can happen: it's not such an absolute impossibility, not much is

I'll send this: if she's gonna read it, she must know he sent it

log off: off or out

in my arms: like muscle tissue?

I can hardly wait: again you can either wait or not

...phew

I'd like to know if dearly or XXOOXX are ones.

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Explanations:

just boarded: can mean recent or is happening currently

i have time: you can't own or hold time

on my laptop: it's not on it

i had to: no one has to do anything

watch my head: pretty obvious (no mirrors)

through the boarding door: through a solid door?

still growing: redundant

had to wait: no one has to do anything

hot water heater: not a cooler obviously

hit traffic: didn't actually collide

huge bottleneck: oxymoron

barely made it on time: you can't be on top of time

non-stop flight: i hope they don't stop while their flying

in town: in town or on the town? - questionable

just took off: just recent or current, also took off or up?

white knuckles: maybe I'm wrong here, but don't they turn red?

glued to my seat: easy one

near miss: also easy

out my window: through, not out

can hardly wait: either you can wait or you can't

missed not seeing you: missed seeing you

at work: at is present, but they are not at work now

have nothing better to do: than explain myself to bonanova <== :lol:

whispering behind my back: kind of pointless, do it in another room

one night stand: should be one night lay

could care less: should be couldn't care less

head over heels: easy

in love: should be have love

ends of the earth: easy

now it's happening: redundant to say now

none too soon: he would like to arrive asap

on these flights: the snacks aren't on top of the plane

hot cup of coffee: maybe a hot cup of iced coffee would be good right now

donut holes: easy, a hole is nothing

rarely satisfied: if satisfaction is rare, then dissatisfaction must be satisfactory - questionable

new position: would he interview for a current position?

yesterday afternoon: noon is today after noon, but yesterday - stretching here

best foot forward: easy to get, unless he has club foot

really hopeful: redundant. "I'm filled with hope." "Really filled though?" "Yes. Really hopeful."

@ss backwards: easy enough

great ideas is a typo - my bad (I edited my answer like 4 times) and still needed a second post

fall through the cracks - easy

my gosh: possessive? his gosh?

on a hit and run play: should be because or by a hit and run play

small ball: they're in the majors (big league)

in November: inside of November?

on in-flight tv: on top of the tv

Can you believe it?: i just feel like this sounds funny I guess =) maybe cause of all the english-isms i've been subjected to

Newsflash just in: redundant

nameless: should be anonymous

No way that can happen: it's not such an absolute impossibility, not much is

I'll send this: if she's gonna read it, she must know he sent it

log off: off or out

in my arms: like muscle tissue?

I can hardly wait: again you can either wait or not

...phew

I'd like to know if dearly or XXOOXX are ones.

My inclusion criteria were loosely given, and the examples were only suggestive.

So I'll give you most of your points - like through a door instead of through a doorway.

The main kinds of common usage that intrigued me for this puzzle were those where the opposite of what was meant was said.

I could care less. Head over heels. a** backwards. near miss. missed not seeing you.

Or a clearly different meaning [if not opposite] from that intended.

a hot cup of coffee. hot water heater. huge bottleneck.

Or something clearly impossible.

watch my head. non stop flight.

or just the unintended time sequence

hit and run play. have cake and eat it.

That's why I said in the OP:

Because it's filled with phrases and stuff that either imply something nonsensical or logically mean the opposite of what's intended.

Much spoken English is imprecise or redundant but still understood.

I purposely sprinkled this with things like "no way" and other colloquialisms, in part to mask the "real" gems.

An exception would be best foot instead of better foot.

About some others, none too soon, my gosh [euphemism for My God!], small ball [bunting and stealing], at work [at designates place, not time] I find nothing remarkable....

Anyway, the idea was to have some fun; and, pedagogically, inspire a little thought about one's own usage.

Some, like yourself and Duh Puck, aren't in need. ;)

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What can i say other than - missed the overnight ones again, always fun to read though!

Beautiful post Bonanova! Don't usually do pat on the back posts - but it is worthy!

Further, english is full of expressions and implied meaning which is what makes it beautiful let alone perfect for the 'legal eagles' to prey upon, or should I say vultures.

My favorite strange-ism, Mum to child Come on get off'! (public transport)

So if disembarking is to alight to reboard is delight?

Call me anything you like but don't call me early

"Surely you can't be serious - I am, and stop calling me Shirley" - Airplane, it's full of them.

"The patient needs to go to hospital! Hospital! What is it? - A big building with patients"

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With regards to [19]

"]"[15] have my cake and eat it too - uh, actually, eat my cake and [then] have it, too."

-actually, this isn't quite an englishism, methinks. This phrase comes from back when a cake was considered a work of art, to be saved. Some people still keep a slice or tier of their wedding cake as a souvenir. Hence, one cannot, in fact, have one's cake and eat it, too. Although I will cede that the statement is ambiguous and would be improved by replacing "have" with "keep."

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With regards to [19]
[15] have my cake and eat it too - uh, actually, eat my cake and [then] have it, too."

-actually, this isn't quite an englishism, methinks. This phrase comes from back when a cake was considered a work of art, to be saved. Some people still keep a slice or tier of their wedding cake as a souvenir. Hence, one cannot, in fact, have one's cake and eat it, too. Although I will cede that the statement is ambiguous and would be improved by replacing "have" with "keep."

As I've heard it used, the phrase relates to wanting -- you can't do both, but you want to -- and the first thing you want is to eat it.

If I hear you correctly, there's a sense in which the first desire is to have [keep] the cake, and, secondly, to eat it.

Interesting perspective. And then the phrase makes sense as is.

Thanks!

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spotted another in your topic
how comes a spoiler doesn't spoil but not using one does?

English ism or Branden ism?

Good point..

Spoiler refers to the content, not to the package.

But the package [which doesn't spoil, but hides,] is named for its content.

Like when you give someone a present, it's in a box - you hand them a box and call it a present - which actually is the content.

Maybe that convention is just a convenient way to save words...?

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