Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[imchongjun]

Hello, teachers.
I have difficulty in deciphering the following telegram:

THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT PATRICIAS DEATH WAS MURDER AND HIRED US AT ONCE AT FLAT RATE WITH BONUS IF SOLVED AND OPTION ALL FUTURE FLY GOO BUSINESS CONGRATULATIONS AND HIT THIS ONE HARD WITH NO SHARP SHOOTING OR CHISELING.

I understand "THEY...HIRED US AT ONCE AT FLAT RATE WITH BONUS IF SOLVED" part, but I cannot make head or tail of "AND OPTION ALL FUTURE FLY GOO BUSINESS". Without punctuation, I am not even sure which word is a verb and which is a noun or an adjective.

[lotus]

Hi,

Telegrams are known to be terse and sometimes cryptic.

Here's an attempt at deciphering it:

THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT PATRICIAS DEATH WAS MURDER AND HIRED US AT ONCE AT FLAT RATE WITH BONUS IF SOLVED AND OPTION ALL FUTURE FLY GOO BUSINESS CONGRATULATIONS AND HIT THIS ONE HARD WITH NO SHARP SHOOTING OR CHISELING.

They had no idea that Patricia's death was a murder, so they hired us at once, at a flat rate with bonus, if we solved the case. And, they gave us an option to all future Fly Goo Company business. Congratulation! Hit this one hard, with no sharp-shooting or chiseling! (whatever that means)


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[Philo Kevetch]

Hello Im Chong-jun -

This is the first time I've heard the term used in this way.

There is a product called 'Fly-Goo' (brand name) used in 'fly-fishing'...
but I don't think that is the reference intended.

Rather, my guess is that the author of "The Mouse In The Mountain" is using 'imagery' to create character and story ('gumshoe' jargon).

Have you ever 'swatted' a fly or seen a fly on a car windshield (screen)?
'fly goo'....a messy business!

So...should they sucessfully solve this case.. they will be the first called for future 'difficult/messy' cases.

Hello Lotus - Hope you don't mind my jumping in...always nice to read your responses.

Philo

[lotus]

Hi Philo,

Not at all. Good to see you. I think you're right. That must be one messy business they're getting into!


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[imchongjun]

Hello, Philo and lotus, and thank you very much for your detailed explanation. Now the passage is clearly understood.