Comments for The Word Detective http://www.word-detective.com Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:00:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on May 2013 by Chrysti M. Smith http://www.word-detective.com/2013/05/may-2013/comment-page-1/#comment-61212 Chrysti M. Smith Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:00:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=8916#comment-61212 As a lifelong dog devotee, and as one who has said final farewells to several of my canine companions, I extend my condolences to you and Kathy on the loss of your Pokey. Our dogs and cats provide such comfort to us as writers (I am one of those also), sleeping nearby as we labor away, and leaping up in glee when we decide that everyone needs a walk. I am sad with you. Chrysti As a lifelong dog devotee, and as one who has said final farewells to several of my canine companions, I extend my condolences to you and Kathy on the loss of your Pokey. Our dogs and cats provide such comfort to us as writers (I am one of those also), sleeping nearby as we labor away, and leaping up in glee when we decide that everyone needs a walk.
I am sad with you.
Chrysti

]]> Comment on Clamjamfry by Peter A. Gallett http://www.word-detective.com/2009/06/clamjamfry/comment-page-1/#comment-61194 Peter A. Gallett Fri, 31 May 2013 22:30:33 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=832#comment-61194 Moderator -- please correct my attribution of "clamjamfry" in the previous posting -- it was NOT Dickens, but a collection of Scottish short stories where I encountered "clamjamfrey". Sorry about the confusion. I just finished reading Dickens, so it's still in my noggin. Moderator — please correct my attribution of “clamjamfry” in the previous posting — it was NOT Dickens, but a collection of Scottish short stories where I encountered “clamjamfrey”. Sorry about the confusion. I just finished reading Dickens, so it’s still in my noggin.

]]> Comment on Clamjamfry by Peter A. Gallett http://www.word-detective.com/2009/06/clamjamfry/comment-page-1/#comment-61193 Peter A. Gallett Fri, 31 May 2013 22:22:37 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=832#comment-61193 In Dickens' Dombey and Son: "... a clamjamfry of wild young blades ..." So it seems that an unruly passel of rambunctious revelers needn't perforce be of the hoi polloi in order to constitute a clamjamfrey. Good word, though I still prefer the suggestion "clams fried in jam" proposed by Victor (above). In Dickens’ Dombey and Son: “… a clamjamfry of wild young blades …” So it seems that an unruly passel of rambunctious revelers needn’t perforce be of the hoi polloi in order to constitute a clamjamfrey. Good word, though I still prefer the suggestion “clams fried in jam” proposed by Victor (above).

]]> Comment on Sweating bullets by Andrew http://www.word-detective.com/2009/10/sweating-bullets/comment-page-1/#comment-61170 Andrew Fri, 31 May 2013 11:19:12 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2072#comment-61170 Back in the 1800's, ammunition for muskets was made by dropping molten lead off of a tower, called a "shot tower" <q cite="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_tower">. I just recently came to the conclusion that the expression "sweating bullets" was related to this, in that you are sweating so much that droplets are rolling off of you, and falling, as if you were a shot tower. I have no idea if this is correct, but it seems to make sense to me. Back in the 1800′s, ammunition for muskets was made by dropping molten lead off of a tower, called a “shot tower” . I just recently came to the conclusion that the expression “sweating bullets” was related to this, in that you are sweating so much that droplets are rolling off of you, and falling, as if you were a shot tower. I have no idea if this is correct, but it seems to make sense to me.

]]> Comment on Mudgeon by Danny S. http://www.word-detective.com/2013/05/mudgeon/comment-page-1/#comment-61164 Danny S. Thu, 30 May 2013 23:57:30 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=8459#comment-61164 I have seen the word "curmudgeon" countless times, but I always somehow reversed the "u" and the "r" in my mind, and thought that the word was "crumudgeon". Perhaps someone who argues over crumbs. The archetypal curmudgeon, to me, would be Andy Rooney, and I wonder if that is who you were thinking of when you mentioned the meaning of the word having softened "at least on TV". I have seen the word “curmudgeon” countless times, but I always somehow reversed the “u” and the “r” in my mind, and thought that the word was “crumudgeon”. Perhaps someone who argues over crumbs. The archetypal curmudgeon, to me, would be Andy Rooney, and I wonder if that is who you were thinking of when you mentioned the meaning of the word having softened “at least on TV”.

]]> Comment on Trife/Trifey by Josh http://www.word-detective.com/2012/10/trifetrifey/comment-page-1/#comment-61161 Josh Wed, 29 May 2013 20:13:50 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=7236#comment-61161 Word to the mother, son! You ain't frontin'! Word to the mother, son! You ain’t frontin’!

]]> Comment on Moolah. by X. Ray http://www.word-detective.com/2008/08/moolah/comment-page-1/#comment-61159 X. Ray Wed, 29 May 2013 03:51:51 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=495#comment-61159 Number 1 explanation in my books. Number 1 explanation in my books.

]]> Comment on Clam by karl http://www.word-detective.com/2008/03/clam/comment-page-1/#comment-61157 karl Tue, 28 May 2013 22:53:40 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/03/24/clam/#comment-61157 A bag of clams, purchased at the store, makes a horrible noise. A bag of clams, purchased at the store, makes a horrible noise.

]]> Comment on Shoo-fly by admin http://www.word-detective.com/2010/03/shoo-fly/comment-page-1/#comment-61156 admin Tue, 28 May 2013 22:04:57 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2321#comment-61156 Oh yes, I have a bottomless pit of this stuff. Oh yes, I have a bottomless pit of this stuff.

]]> Comment on Right as Rain by Tanya http://www.word-detective.com/2011/08/right-as-rain/comment-page-1/#comment-61155 Tanya Tue, 28 May 2013 12:10:01 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=5348#comment-61155 Actually I grow tomatoes in the desert. And it does occasionally rain in the desert! Actually I grow tomatoes in the desert. And it does occasionally rain in the desert!

]]> Comment on Four Flusher by Movie Buff http://www.word-detective.com/2008/03/four-flusher/comment-page-1/#comment-61151 Movie Buff Mon, 27 May 2013 05:48:37 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/03/24/four-flusher/#comment-61151 I was watching a movie with Clark Gable in it called "Homecoming" made in 1948. Someone called Gable's character a 'Four Flusher'. This caused his character to react strongly. Curious, I went on Dictionary.com, and put in 'floor flusher' and found out it was actually 'Four Flusher'. Thanks for educating me in the meaning of the term. I was watching a movie with Clark Gable in it called “Homecoming” made in 1948. Someone called Gable’s character a ‘Four Flusher’. This caused his character to react strongly. Curious, I went on Dictionary.com, and put in ‘floor flusher’ and found out it was actually ‘Four Flusher’. Thanks for educating me in the meaning of the term.

]]> Comment on Hell bent for leather by Amanda http://www.word-detective.com/2009/10/hell-bent-for-leather/comment-page-1/#comment-61150 Amanda Sun, 26 May 2013 21:32:39 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/?p=2058#comment-61150 Yee-haw! http://youtu.be/MSHr4ubuD64 Yee-haw!

http://youtu.be/MSHr4ubuD64

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