Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

What does "hound dogs in the outhouse" mean?


All efforts to avoid the term have proven fruitless. The New York Times, for instance, refers to easily ticketed parking violations as "low-hanging fruit" for the N.Y.P.D. Meanwhile, the Texas Observer calls the obvious problems the state legislature should address, such as decaying school buildings and lax emissions standards, "hound dogs in the outhouse" -- OK, only kidding -- "low-hanging fruit."
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Hiromichi

[Philo Kevetch]

Hello Hiromichi -

'Hounds' (a breed of dogs) have been bred for their highly developed ability to follow even the 'faintest' scents when hunting or tracking prey.

An 'outhouse' is a rustic type of toilet without a system to 'flush' feces/urine away and (typically) has a very stong odor (reeks).

So..just as parking violations are easier than other 'crimes/offences' requiring investigation for the N.Y.P.D. ('low-hanging fruit' - harvested with the least effort)

the Texas state legislature ought to be able to recognize the problems of the state education system and enviromental issues, as they are quite obvious (hounds should have little difficulty picking up the scent of feces if they are in an outhouse)

Sounds like an Op/Ed (opinion/editioral) piece...if so, the writer is likening the state legislature to a 'reeking' outhouse and the members ought to be able to 'smell' the 'feces' they are standing in. Philo

[hiromichi]

Philo, I get it. Thank you very much for your detailed explanation.
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Hiromichi