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imchongjun
Joined: 14 Nov 2005
Posts: 120
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 Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: stove-in-bottom |
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Hello, teachers.
Would you tell me what "stove-in-bottom" mean in the following dialog?
"A pretty dirty world, if you ask me," said Radigan.
"All right, old stove-in-bottom! I didn't make it."
(http://www.gutenberg.ca/ebooks/footner-sinfully/footner-sinfully-00-h.html)
I could not find this word in any dictionaries. Thanks! |
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pugachevV
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2295
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| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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If you stave something in you break it by forcing it inwards or make a hole in it.
A boat with a stove in bottom, has its bottom forced inwards so that it starts to leak badly.
Addressing Radigan as "old stove in bottom" is probably a humorous, or sarcastic way of referring to some sort of a boating accident in his past. |
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imchongjun
Joined: 14 Nov 2005
Posts: 120
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| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 4:17 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for your comment.
Just one more question.
Is it possible to take this expression for "a bottomlessly innocent/naive/stupid person"? |
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pugachevV
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 2295
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| Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 4:24 am Post subject: |
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A boat with a stove in bottom is pretty much useless, so I guess you could interpret the expression to mean that.
I don't think naive, or innocent, works though. |
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