Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Vin21]

You'd better go outside to blow off the stink.
What does it mean,"blow off the stink"
Thanks!

[bud]

Vin, I'd never seen this expression before, but I've just looked at several examples of it on the web. It seems to mean to get out of a funk/rut. It seems to be used when kids are just hanging out inside. They're told to go outside and blow off the stink - to go outside, get some exercise, and get yourselves energized.

I like it! Thanks!

[Vin21]

Thanks,bud.
I remember a teacher of mine once said to me that "You'd better go outside to blow off the stink"
I didn't understand,so I asked," What stink? I don't smell that."
And he said,"Just go out and play."
I got confused then.
Now I'm pretty sure about the meaning from your interpretation,it just suits my case.
But if you'd never seen this expression before,that means this expression is not commonly used.

I 've just looked this up in the dictionary:

to get out of a funk/rut

Iisn't that their opposites are:

[Definition]
be in a funk
to be very unhappy and without hope:
He's been in a real funk since she left him.

be in a rut
If a person, organization, etc. is in a rut, they have become too fixed in one particular type of job, activity, method, etc:
I've got to change jobs - after 15 years here I feel I'm (stuck) in a rut (= I'm bored).

So,I can learn more,thanks!

[RedRose]

Vin21, your teacher was very mean. he even said that to a kid

when I was about 10, my Chinese literature teacher said to me:"why can't you concentrate on my lesson? something is wrong?" I answered:"yeah, you are wrong. because you have never read those Chinese ancient masterpieces, but you even teach us that!!" she said:"I did! how dare you say that I didn't read them?" I said:"because I have already read the two novels many times. and I found you were describing them wrong." then she said the similar words to me as your teacher did. of course, she was embarassed

sometimes, when people are embarassed for some reasons, they always say something like that, as if it were all other people's fault!

[Vin21]

Hi,RedRose
Then your teacher was a little bit irresponsible ,for she didn't prepare for the classes and taught you something wrong.
You got a point there,when doing something wrong which a person didn't want you to know was disclosed, especially when she was your teacher,she felt that she lost her dignity.Ha,if I were you,I wouldn't dare to point that out, brave gal!

But I think my case was not that bad as yours.

[bud]

Vin and RedRose, I think both of those teachers picked the wrong profession!

Vin, I think both of those definitions are more rigid than the usages of most people. In sports, for example, it is common to say that a team is in a funk, or in a rut, when they have lost quite a few games recently. That would be said of a team that generally wins a lot of its games.

Also, it is common to say, "I've been in a rut/funk lately" to describe just feeling a bit off lately. You haven't really been depressed, but you've lacked enthusiasm. You normally like movies, but nothing you've heard about sounded interesting to you. You've been watching a lot of TV in your free time rather than getting together with friends, like you normally do. Etc., etc.

Don't misunderstand, though - I agree with the definitions. I just think the phrases are used more generally than that.

[RedRose]

thanks bud

[Vin21]

Hmm....used more generally than that.....
I got it,thanks a lot.

[inulilian]

i just learned so much from you guys!

I am fresh here, just joined today, but i do think it's a wonderful website!

Btw, i do feel a little bit low recently, so i just describe myself as i've been in a rut!

_________________
inu

[RedRose]

[bud]

Welcome, Inulilian!

Get yourself out of that rut!!!

[inulilian]

Thanks bud and redrose!
I am now enjoying a wonderful time here!
_________________
inu