Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hanygeorge38]

Dear Teachers

could you please explain to me the following words and idioms which i came across while reasding in the Cobuild Dictionary for Idioms

They are : at stake, on a high note as you can see them in the following
exampels :


1- But for the presedent there is more a stake in the recial violence erupting all over America than burning streets - his whole political future
could go up in smoke

2- Terry Wagon is determided to *beep* a snook at the critics and go out on
a high note.


thanks for your assistance
[/b]
_________________
hany

[obelix]

To go up in smoke means to be completely destroyed.

To c o c k a snook literally means to make a specific contemptuous gesture. It is what Americans call "thumbing your nose". To do this you extend your fingers so they point straight up and touch your thumb to the end of your nose. Some people also wiggle their fingers back and forth while doing this.
Here it is used figuratively to indicate Terry Wogan's contempt for his critics.
To go out on a high note means to leave, or end his career with a resounding success.

Unfortunately, because of Nana's and Corey's concern for young minds, (give me a break) the word C O C K is proscribed by their software. Although there are many legitimate and normal uses for this word, it is also slang for p e n i s which is also proscribed, although it is the correct name for the male sexual organ.
In my opinion this is a complete C O C K up and should be changed as it is very easy to c o c k a snook at. So, Corey old c o c k, why not fix it?
This same software, by the way, forbids the use of the word D i c k e n s, who, as we all know is a rather well-known author.

[advoca]

Hey!

[advoca]

I say!

What the *beep* is going on? Someone ought to *beep* a snook at this sort of bowdlerisation.

What do I do if I want to talk about a *beep* cat owned by *beep* Whittington?

Moderation in everythin', I say, even if I am an called a silly ass for such remarks.


Sorry folks!
I should have said :

What the d i c k e n s is going on? Someone ought to c o c k a snook at this sort of bowdlerisation.

What do I do if I want to talk about a p u s s y cat owned by D i c k Whittington?

Moderation in everythin', I say, even if I am an called a silly a s s for such remarks.

Bloody *beep* stupid, I think. (I bet the word 'bloody' gets through!)

This is the year 2003. There are few dictionaries available to students of English that do not include the word f u c k, c u n t, and p e n i s. And there must be few students of English who do not know such words.

Come on, moderators. Get real.