Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[imchongjun]

Hello, Teachers

Would you tell me what "walking foreman" is? I think "walk" here means to "supervise" as in "shopwalker" or "floorwalker". Am I correct?

[pugachevV]

Probably, you mean working foreman. A working foreman is in charge of a construction crew but he works alongside them rather than just managing them and doing the paperwork.

[lotus]

Hi,

I've certainly heard of a "working boss", and even "working foreman." But, I believe the term Imchongjun is referring to is either "walking boss" or "foreman", but not "walking foreman." These are union-worker terms.

http://www.ilwu.org/longshore/upload/The%20Walking%20Bosses%20and%20Foremen.pdf


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

[imchongjun]

Thank you, lotus, for your very usuful link. I came across "walking foreman" in chapter 2 of "The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists".

[lotus]

Hi Imchongjun,

Title: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
Author: Robert Tressell (British)

Text, Chapter 1:

"Old Misery' was Ruston & Co.'s manager or walking foreman. `Misery'
was only one of the nicknames bestowed upon him by the hands: he was
also known as `Nimrod' and `Pontius Pilate."

Text, Chapter 2:

"Mr Hunter, as he was called to his face and as he was known to his
brethren at the Shining Light Chapel, where he was superintendant of
the Sunday School, or `Misery' or `Nimrod'; as he was named behind his
back by the workmen over whom he tyrannized, was the general or
walking foreman of `manager' of the firm whose card is herewith
presented to the reader:"

Source: Project Gutenberg


It seems that the language of the British working class does in fact include the term "walking foreman."


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