Comments on: Stemwinder http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-43615 Michael Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:01:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-43615 @ Helen- this website might help with that phrase: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/have-no-truck-with.html @ Helen- this website might help with that phrase:

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/have-no-truck-with.html

]]> By: Helen http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-43345 Helen Sat, 08 Sep 2012 17:33:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-43345 Do they still call them truck farms? When driving to the New Jersey shore in the 50's and 60's we would see the signs. We were told it was because trucks would come to take their produce to market. Speaking of truck, where did the expression "I'll have no truck with you" originate? Do they still call them truck farms? When driving to the New Jersey shore in the 50′s and 60′s we would see the signs. We were told it was because trucks would come to take their produce to market.

Speaking of truck, where did the expression “I’ll have no truck with you” originate?

]]> By: Steve Johnson http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-43297 Steve Johnson Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:45:04 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-43297 A stemwinder is the final speech on the program, the one so powerful that it yanks the audience to its feet and leaves it cheering as hard as it can. It's the equivalent of a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth and the winning Hail Mary in football. So let's talk about "truck." It once referred to a load of produce that a farmer was taking to market. Only after a long time did the word get used to refer to the vehicle that brought the produce to market. Ever hear of "truck farms"? The term refers to produce farms, as distinct from farms that grow fields of grain. A stemwinder is the final speech on the program, the one so powerful that it yanks the audience to its feet and leaves it cheering as hard as it can. It’s the equivalent of a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth and the winning Hail Mary in football. So let’s talk about “truck.” It once referred to a load of produce that a farmer was taking to market. Only after a long time did the word get used to refer to the vehicle that brought the produce to market. Ever hear of “truck farms”? The term refers to produce farms, as distinct from farms that grow fields of grain.

]]> By: Patty http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-40283 Patty Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:57:13 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-40283 The first time I heard the word stemwinder was from my grandfather. My son was a very active and entertaining little tike and my grandfather would call him a stemwinder when he spent time with him. He was a very gifted journalist and continued writing until his death at 92. He passed away four years ago. Energetic and excellent would be the best definition for this word. The first time I heard the word stemwinder was from my grandfather. My son was a very active and entertaining little tike and my grandfather would call him a stemwinder when he spent time with him. He was a very gifted journalist and continued writing until his death at 92. He passed away four years ago. Energetic and excellent would be the best definition for this word.

]]> By: CaptainKirk http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-36890 CaptainKirk Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:12:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-36890 I attend a lot of meetings, some more interesting than others and some speakers make their points using way too much time with way too many words. If there's no wall clock I find myself trying to sneak a look at my watch. I say "sneak" because it would not be polite or politically correct to show lack of rapt attention. My past take on "stem winder" was that while the rabble were being roused by a speaker, the more hip guys were looking at their pocket watches and pretending to wind them to cover up their boredom. Word Detective's version seems to come closer to the actual way it is and has been used. Word Detectives take on it reflects actual current usage whatever it's origins. I attend a lot of meetings, some more interesting than others and
some speakers make their points using way too much time with
way too many words. If there’s no wall clock I find myself trying
to sneak a look at my watch. I say “sneak” because it would not
be polite or politically correct to show lack of rapt attention.

My past take on “stem winder” was that while the rabble were
being roused by a speaker, the more hip guys were looking at
their pocket watches and pretending to wind them to cover up
their boredom.

Word Detective’s version seems to come closer to the actual
way it is and has been used.

Word Detectives take on it reflects actual current usage whatever it’s origins.

]]> By: Joe L. http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-34726 Joe L. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:12:33 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-34726 Today, from Moscow, the NY Times' Ellen Barry reported that, "Putin strode out in a parka and delivered a ferocious stemwinder." And millions of people Googled "stemwinder." Great word! Today, from Moscow, the NY Times’ Ellen Barry reported that, “Putin strode out in a parka and delivered a ferocious stemwinder.” And millions of people Googled “stemwinder.” Great word!

]]> By: Peter McCrossin http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-32080 Peter McCrossin Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:39:54 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-32080 I've never heard of this term before, and people here (Melbourne, Australia) reckon I know a word or two. I checked "stemwinder" out after reading about a Michelle Obama speech. Happy to go with the Word Detective on this one. I’ve never heard of this term before, and people here (Melbourne, Australia) reckon I know a word or two. I checked “stemwinder” out after reading about a Michelle Obama speech. Happy to go with the Word Detective on this one.

]]> By: AJHIL http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-19999 AJHIL Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:16:40 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-19999 Bob, Tom, and Jules: With due deference to your epistemological instincts, I've been familiar with this term for many years and have never encountered it in any context other than that consistent with "rabble rousing", "barn burner" and similar expressions. On the other hand the interpretation you suggest - so boring as to require a listener to wind his watch - seems terribly contrived and unimaginative, not the kind of thing that would engage the popular imagination enough to coin a new meaning. I'm going with Word Detective (as well as a number of other websites which cited the same origin. Bob, Tom, and Jules:
With due deference to your epistemological instincts, I’ve been familiar with this term for many years and have never encountered it in any context other than that consistent with “rabble rousing”, “barn burner” and similar expressions. On the other hand the interpretation you suggest – so boring as to require a listener to wind his watch – seems terribly contrived and unimaginative, not the kind of thing that would engage the popular imagination enough to coin a new meaning. I’m going with Word Detective (as well as a number of other websites which cited the same origin.

]]> By: Cranky Old Batt http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-18514 Cranky Old Batt Thu, 26 May 2011 19:01:30 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-18514 I also agree, from usage, that a stemwinder is an exceptional, not boring or overlong, speech. Heretofore, I thought it referred to the speaker, however. I also agree, from usage, that a stemwinder is an exceptional, not boring or overlong, speech. Heretofore, I thought it referred to the speaker, however.

]]> By: JN http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-9428 JN Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:09:56 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-9428 3M's newsletter is called the Stemwinder. I gotta think they researched it out before naming the publication. 3M’s newsletter is called the Stemwinder. I gotta think they researched it out before naming the publication.

]]> By: jules older http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-7516 jules older Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:35:17 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-7516 Me too. And I wrote a kid's book about (and called) TELLING TIME. OTOH... it makes no reference to stems, to winding or to speeches than never end. Jules Me too. And I wrote a kid’s book about (and called) TELLING TIME.

OTOH… it makes no reference to stems, to winding or to speeches than never end.

Jules

]]> By: Bob Dobolina http://www.word-detective.com/2008/10/stemwinder/comment-page-1/#comment-4423 Bob Dobolina Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:14:59 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/02/07/stemwinder/#comment-4423 I'm not buying it. This sounds like folk etymology to me. I'm going with PF and Tom Wolfe on this one. I’m not buying it. This sounds like folk etymology to me. I’m going with PF and Tom Wolfe on this one.

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