I'm not personally an an old fart. And beyond middle aged. Older adults fart more, though perhaps I should note that I know of one person who farts more when older.
Which brings me to farts are called where you live. Having gas, and passing gas was usual when I was young. Breaking or passing wind was something I heard to describe this later. Fart was thought of as a semi-bad word.
Surely there will be no farting in heaven, the other place please
'Shot' is a useful multi-purpose word in North America, meaning either a needle or a small glass of hard liquor. Sometimes the functions are closely related, of course.
And "to have a shot at" means either (a) you have a sporting chance (he has a shot at winning the Gluckman Trophy this year), or (b) to try doing something (sure, I'll have a shot at it).
And among the young folks (at least, two years ago - the language changes so quickly!) to "shoot your shot" meant to ask out, or declare your love for, the object of your desire.
Not necessarily - that means that the person referred to is setting out the rules, directing what is to be done. That of course may be in relation to the taking of photos, or how the half-dead apple tree out the back is to be cut down, or anything else you can think of.
I am guessing (totally guessing) that calling the shots derives from someone being in command of a riflery unit. It would be that person's job to "call the shots" (let people know when to start shooting, and when to stop, etc.)
I am guessing (totally guessing) that calling the shots derives from someone being in command of a riflery unit. It would be that person's job to "call the shots" (let people know when to start shooting, and when to stop, etc.)
I am guessing (totally guessing) that calling the shots derives from someone being in command of a riflery unit. It would be that person's job to "call the shots" (let people know when to start shooting, and when to stop, etc.)
I always thought that "calling the shots" had to do with pool, though it would make more sense in the context of curling, in which the skip literally calls the shot to be played.
I always thought that "calling the shots" had to do with pool, though it would make more sense in the context of curling, in which the skip literally calls the shot to be played.
The phrase has used here throughout my lifetime, probably much longer although curling is unknown. I'd doubt that derivation.
Hmmmm..."jab" sounds rather...off-putting, like "jabbing someone in the stomach" or anywhere else. I suppose "shot" has the gun connotations, but I don't think of them...unless we're talking about a pneumatic (?) vaccination "gun". Bad experience with that.
Hmmmm..."jab" sounds rather...off-putting, like "jabbing someone in the stomach" or anywhere else. I suppose "shot" has the gun connotations, but I don't think of them...unless we're talking about a pneumatic (?) vaccination "gun". Bad experience with that.
None of these terms are particularly helpful if you already have a needle phobia.
Well, they call it a phobia, but what's irrational about fearing a painful process involving sharp objects?
Hmmmm..."jab" sounds rather...off-putting, like "jabbing someone in the stomach" or anywhere else. I suppose "shot" has the gun connotations, but I don't think of them...unless we're talking about a pneumatic (?) vaccination "gun". Bad experience with that.
None of these terms are particularly helpful if you already have a needle phobia.
Well, they call it a phobia, but what's irrational about fearing a painful process involving sharp objects?
Quite right.
It’s a very bad time to have such a phobia.
Hmmmm..."jab" sounds rather...off-putting, like "jabbing someone in the stomach" or anywhere else. I suppose "shot" has the gun connotations, but I don't think of them...unless we're talking about a pneumatic (?) vaccination "gun". Bad experience with that.
None of these terms are particularly helpful if you already have a needle phobia.
Well, they call it a phobia, but what's irrational about fearing a painful process involving sharp objects?
Quite right.
It’s a very bad time to have such a phobia.
Not quite right. What is "irrational" about a phobia is not the object of the phobia but the severity.
Another word... After a routine burglary when we lived for a short time in Texas, my wife told the police officer that she'd seen a gaggle of teenage girls hanging around outside. He thought for a moment and said, "No, ma'am - you mean a passel" (parcel, I think).
The word is etymologically a variant of “parcel,” but it is “passel.” It means a large number. Per the Online Etymological Dictionary, “its use in colloquial American English to mean ‘a large group or number’ of persons or things is attested from 1835.”
Regarding shots and jabs, apparently both started being used in American drug users' slang in the early 20th century. I don't know why one become popular in the UK and the other in North America.
I'm not sure that this has been raised before here: use of the word 'through'. Scenario: Someone is talking on the phone. A bystander asks ''Have you got through?' The phone user replies : Yes.' In the UK, that means 'I am connected to the person I am trying to call.' In the US, I understand, it means 'I have finished my call.' Why the difference, and does it cause problems in transatlantic communication?
I'm not sure that this has been raised before here: use of the word 'through'. Scenario: Someone is talking on the phone. A bystander asks ''Have you got through?' The phone user replies : Yes.' In the UK, that means 'I am connected to the person I am trying to call.' In the US, I understand, it means 'I have finished my call.' Why the difference, and does it cause problems in transatlantic communication?
In my experience in the US, “Have you gotten through?” or “Did you get through?” always means “Have you connected with the person you’re trying to reach?” It’s “Are you through?” that means “Are you finished?”
"Are you through?" is short for "Are you through (with that call/task)?" meaning, finished.
In this case, "through" functions as an adjective modifying "you" and meaning "finished" (e.g. "I'm all through now.").
The example "Did you get through (the phone system to the person you wanted)?" has "through" acting as a preposition to a noun or noun phrase which is omitted.
In my experience in the US, “Have you gotten through?” or “Did you get through?” always means “Have you connected with the person you’re trying to reach?” It’s “Are you through?” that means “Are you finished?”
Through to vs through with. Omit the preposition, and you need context to tell which one the person means.
In my experience in the US, “Have you gotten through?” or “Did you get through?” always means “Have you connected with the person you’re trying to reach?” It’s “Are you through?” that means “Are you finished?”
Through to vs through with. Omit the preposition, and you need context to tell which one the person means.
Not necessarily, as the verb also matters: “to be” vs. “to get.” In my experience, it’s always “get through to” and “be through with.” The only exception to that I can think of is a statement like “I’ve just got to plow ahead and get through this,” or “You’ll get through this.” But I’ve never heard “I’ve gotten through” to mean I’m finished; that’s always (in my experience) “I am through.”
But I’ve never heard “I’ve gotten through” to mean I’m finished; that’s always (in my experience) “I am through.”
I've heard "I've just gotten through with X" (or possibly "I've just got through with X" - my brain just maps gotten on to got, so I don't notice which one people use) to indicate that the speaker has only recently completed X.
I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone say they’ve gotten through or just gotten through with anything either. I’m sure it’s possible I’ve heard it over the last six decades, but both sound strange to my ears.
Perhaps regionalisms are at play here? For recently completed things, what I’d expect to hear here is “I (or I’ve) just finished,” “I/I’ve just gotten done,” or “I just got done.”
Scenario: Someone is talking on the phone. A bystander asks ''Have you got through?' The phone user replies : Yes.' … In the US, I understand, it means 'I have finished my call.'
is not, in my experience, accurate. I would not understand the “yes” there to mean that the speaker has finished the call.
@Nick Tamen agree. Also an American would be far more likely to say "have you gotten" rather than the newfangled "have you got".
It's the "gotten" that is so US to our ears - we'd simply use "got". I can't remember which one the Canadians use.
Depending who you are, either. As is often the case in Canada, regional, generational, originational, class. I mostly use "got" - more UK-ish, which is not to say more correct.
Thanks to you both. I knew "gotten" was the original, but probably between the earliest British settlements in N America and those here the British usage changed. As to Pangolin Guerre's last sentence, surely each usages is correct in that country?
A small general tangent from Dictionary.com: "the “standard” language in a given country—which we often conflate with the language itself—is the particular dialect used by institutions. (It has been said that a language is just a dialect with an army and a navy. But I typically find it more helpful to think of things this way: A language is just a dialect with standard-issue textbooks and a disapproving glare.) " ~Elizabeth Little, commenting on The Dictionary of American Regional English
A small general tangent from Dictionary.com: "the “standard” language in a given country—which we often conflate with the language itself—is the particular dialect used by institutions. (It has been said that a language is just a dialect with an army and a navy. But I typically find it more helpful to think of things this way: A language is just a dialect with standard-issue textbooks and a disapproving glare.) " ~Elizabeth Little, commenting on The Dictionary of American Regional English
Yes, standard English used to be described as a class dialect, not a regional one. I assume this description is still used, although it irritates some people, who I suppose think it's "correct" English.
Going back a few posts, I'm not persuaded that the average Brit would grasp the distinction between 'Have you got/ten through/' and 'Are you all through?' Though I suppose that doesn't matter so much as it would have done in the days of operator-controlled calls.
Though I suppose that doesn't matter so much as it would have done in the days of operator-controlled calls.
These days, I’d say “Have you gotten through” is quite applicable for calls that start off with “Your call is important to us. For business hours, please press 1, . . . .” It can be quite a challenge sometimes to get through to a real person who can help you.
Another word... After a routine burglary when we lived for a short time in Texas, my wife told the police officer that she'd seen a gaggle of teenage girls hanging around outside. He thought for a moment and said, "No, ma'am - you mean a passel" (parcel, I think).
Passel is correct if you are from the Deep South. I wonder what they were fixin to do.
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Ah! It's early and I've not had my tea yet.
I'm in Newfoundland.
Surely there will be no farting in heaven, the other place please
That makes more sense.
Well put
The phrase has used here throughout my lifetime, probably much longer although curling is unknown. I'd doubt that derivation.
None of these terms are particularly helpful if you already have a needle phobia.
Well, they call it a phobia, but what's irrational about fearing a painful process involving sharp objects?
It’s a very bad time to have such a phobia.
Not quite right. What is "irrational" about a phobia is not the object of the phobia but the severity.
I was confessing my errors, thank you.
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In this case, "through" functions as an adjective modifying "you" and meaning "finished" (e.g. "I'm all through now.").
The example "Did you get through (the phone system to the person you wanted)?" has "through" acting as a preposition to a noun or noun phrase which is omitted.
Through to vs through with. Omit the preposition, and you need context to tell which one the person means.
I've heard "I've just gotten through with X" (or possibly "I've just got through with X" - my brain just maps gotten on to got, so I don't notice which one people use) to indicate that the speaker has only recently completed X.
Perhaps regionalisms are at play here? For recently completed things, what I’d expect to hear here is “I (or I’ve) just finished,” “I/I’ve just gotten done,” or “I just got done.”
In any event, what @Eirenist posited: is not, in my experience, accurate. I would not understand the “yes” there to mean that the speaker has finished the call.
It's the "gotten" that is so US to our ears - we'd simply use "got". I can't remember which one the Canadians use.
Yes. The Brits use the newer form; the Yanks use the original form just like the Bard and the first Elizabeth.
Depending who you are, either. As is often the case in Canada, regional, generational, originational, class. I mostly use "got" - more UK-ish, which is not to say more correct.
Yes, standard English used to be described as a class dialect, not a regional one. I assume this description is still used, although it irritates some people, who I suppose think it's "correct" English.
Passel is correct if you are from the Deep South. I wonder what they were fixin to do.