February
4 years ago
Thursday, 15 May 2014
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“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.” - Winnie the Pooh
"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
My Main Blog
Introduction
My daughter Helen commented in November 2008 in her Blog that she was now keeping a notebook of new words that she came across during her reading. "This week I bought a lovely little leather bound book to write new words in as I read them . I've added a few from "1984", but my favourite has to be persiflage (from the French persifler) which means banter." I later discovered that my older daughter, Bryony, also kept a similar notebook.
This inspired me to create a Word blog. This will include both new words, favourite words and the origins of phrases that we commonly use. A definition and some comment, perhaps even a relevant quotation, will acompany the word or phrase.
This inspired me to create a Word blog. This will include both new words, favourite words and the origins of phrases that we commonly use. A definition and some comment, perhaps even a relevant quotation, will acompany the word or phrase.
“I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words bother me.” - Winnie the Pooh
There is a similar expression in German, "auf Schusters Rappen", which literally means "on the shoemaker's black horse". I have not seen it used in a derogatory way, but it could well be that it was originally meant so, and only acquired its more "poetic" ring over time, when walking began to appeal to people who felt it was a good way to be in touch with nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks Meike. That's even more fascinating - why did shoemakers have horses that were black? Isn't language a wonderful thing to study?
DeleteIt's actually still good advice, too, however it is spelled.
ReplyDeleteYes, Messymimi, a lot of the Wartime advice is now highly appropriate once again as we begin to think more carefully about the use of the planet's resources.
DeleteWhat do the words across the bottom say? Is the poster encouraging people to walk instead of riding in a bus, to save on fuel during the war?
ReplyDeleteI think the words across the bottom were something to do with it being a Ministry of War poster. Yes, Bette, it was as you say, asking folk to leave room on buses for those with longer journeys to save on the number of buses on the road, using fuel, during the war..
Delete