Job Discussion Forums

[R]

... has anybody read the original version of Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable? It's totally archaic and useless for teaching, but it's the best browse I've ever had. Here's a sample of its balanced, informative, unbiased definitions, which never feature entirely random comments. All are complete:

Don Giovanni: Mozart's best opera.

Gay: (g hard). Gay as the king's candle. A French phrase, alluding to an ancient custom observed on the 6th of January, called the "Eve or Vigil of the Kings," when a candle of divers colours was burnt. The expression is used to denote a woman who is more showily dressed than is consistent with good taste.

Duchess: The wife or widow of a duke; but an old woman is often jocosely termed an old duchess or a regular old duchess. The longevity of the peers and peeresses is certainly very striking.

Book-keeper: One who borrows books, but does not return them.

[johnslat]

Dear Sunaru,
Ah here it is - moderators:
" Blessed saintly men and women ( which raises a point - do we HAVE any women moderators and, if not, is Dave's ESL Cafe a sexist joint? ) who, with their infinite patience, keen discernment and extraordinary tact ( try to ) keep clients from tearing each other apart. "
Whoops, no - I'm sorry. That was the definition of " bouncers ".
Regards,
John

[Shaman]

[johnslat]

Dear Sharman,
Well, most of those patrons might have had " keen perception " when they walked in, but one thing I noticed back in my drinking days was that booze - like The Shadow - does tend to " cloud men's ( and women's ) minds ". Why even a wise, judicious and congenial guy such as myself was known, on more than one occasion, to become more belligerent than Attila the Hun on a bad hair day after imbibing a few. ( I still marvel that I somehow survived myself ).
Regards,
John

[Irish]

johnslat wrote:

[R]

Nope, no 'moderator' in Brewer's. The closest is 'Modish', defined thus:

Modish: (Lady Betty) in the Carelss Husband by Cibber. The name explains the character. This was Mrs. Oldfield's favourite character, and The Tattler (no. 10) accordingly calls this charming actress "Lady Betty Modish." (See NARCISSA).

(The defnition of 'Narcissa' turns out to mention nothing related to the above.)

What's wonderful about Brewer's is that you can learn a great deal while simultaneously learning nothing at all...

Rob.

[johnslat]

Dear R,
" What's wonderful about Brewer's is that you can learn a great deal while simultaneously learning nothing at all... "
Thereby demonstating a very close resemblance to what students experience in ESL/EFL classrooms ( well, except those classrooms in which all the posters on Dave's teach, that is ).
Regards,
John

[ESL Guru]

"Motherhood"???

Before any woman can become a mother in the conventional manner (male with female) doesn't the woman have to "take out some trash?" Just asking guys.

[R]

Kissing the Pope's Toe: Matthew of Westminster says, it was customary formerly to kiss the hand of his Holiness; but that a certain woman, in the eighth century, not only kissed the Pope's hand but "squeezed it." The Church magnate, seeinng the danger to which he was exposed, cut off his hand, and was compelled in future to offer his foot, a custom which has continued to the present hour.

[johnslat]

Dear R,
In the Roman Catholic Church, you've got to toe the line. But you've got to hand it to that Pope - if thy eye offend thee, pluck it out, indeed. My qualm is regarding foot-fetish Catholics who will find toe-kissing an occasion of sin.
Regards,
John

[ESL Guru]

Sunaru -

Do not tell a Catholic to KYA. They might and then you may LYA.