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missdaredevil
Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 1670
Location: Ask me
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 Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject: about houses |
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The houses are lavish and *gold-trimmed*, modest and *wood-sided*, and perched on *handkerchiefs* of land and large private islands.
What are the meaning of the three words?
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:41 am Post subject: Re: about houses |
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| missdaredevil wrote: |
| The houses are lavish and *gold-trimmed*, modest and *wood-sided*, and perched on *handkerchiefs* of land and large private islands. |
Trim means to make a small cut, but it also means to decorate (e.g. to trim a Christmas tree). So in this case, it means the houses are decorated with gold.
Wood-sided I think means the houses are made of simple wood and the outer walls are also plain wood panels or boards, not covered with brick or stucco or anything fancy.
A handkerchief as you know is a small piece of cloth. The metaphor is an exaggeration to suggest the plot of land on which the house sits is very small. |
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pugachevV
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2295
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:43 am Post subject: |
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Gold-trimmed, means they are decorated with gold here and there. It might also be taken to mean that they are very expensively appointed.
Wood - sided, means that the sides of the house are made of wood, or at least finished with wood.
A handkerchief of land, means a very small lot, or piece of property. |
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missdaredevil
Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 1670
Location: Ask me
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you both for such detailed explanation. |
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