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#100761 - 04/23/03 10:51 AM OK, I'm a native speaker of English, but
AnnaStrophic Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 6511
Loc: lower upstate New York
What's a skivvy?

I've heard it used in the plural to mean underwear... any connection?


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#100762 - 04/23/03 10:59 AM Re: OK, I'm NOT a native speaker of English, but
rav Offline
member

Registered: 12/07/02
Posts: 122
Loc: Poland, Cracow
skivvy= lowly female servant

that's what my dictionary says


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#100763 - 04/23/03 11:13 AM Re: USns
musick Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 12/24/00
Posts: 2658
Loc: Chicago
Why in American of English you apply so great deal abbreviations. It's obvious that conversation is pleasure but conversation with abbreviations is alike to conversation two robots and it is incomprehensible for the foreigns.

Since nobody actually® bothered answering Krzysztof's request for comprehension... y'all asked for *it...

Some would disagree with the notion that conversation is an "obvious pleasure" and I, for one, do whatever is necessary to make it not obvious (the pleasure part that is )... and your analogy with robots, however understandable, would be more appropriately describing what would happen if we all spoke the same language (IMHO).

Does this make things incomprehesible for the foreigns... I suppose so, and I would apologize first and then take time to explain. However, I wouldn't give the *native English/American speaker that same courtesy... they're gonna have to LIU or ask for an explaination, but rarely do (ask, that is). Some say it's not worth asking about and I say it's not worth making comprehensible in the first place, which, of course, explains the disparity between our views about conversation being an "obvious pleasure" but says nothing about an intent for understanding.

The words people use and what those words mean to them are just as (if not ocasionally more so) intrinsic to commmunication as the information imbedded within them... which shows up nicely in your original inquiry.

Now, as to the *real answer...

http://ad-free-message-board.com/abbreviations.html


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#100764 - 04/23/03 11:29 AM Re: OK, I'm NOT a native speaker of English, but
AnnaStrophic Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 03/15/00
Posts: 6511
Loc: lower upstate New York
skivvy= lowly female servant

that's what my dictionary says

Thanks, Rav!!


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#100765 - 04/23/03 02:59 PM Re: OK, I'm a native speaker of English, but
sjm Offline
old hand

Registered: 07/19/02
Posts: 742
Loc: Akina
>skivvy

I had never heard the female servant definition before. Up here, it's normally used to refer to a sweatshirt-type garment thingy.


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#100766 - 04/23/03 04:44 PM Re: OK, I'm a native speaker of English, but
Capfka Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/28/02
Posts: 1624
Loc: Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok
Both, actually, sjm. My mother used to inform us kids that she wasn't our skivvy. We, um, disagreed!


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#100767 - 04/23/03 09:06 PM polish means to bring a shine to
TEd Remington Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 07/17/00
Posts: 3467
Loc: Marion NC
I collect cartoons about writing and about puns. Somewhere around i have a BC strip from years ago. Clam A says to Clam B, "B, what did the car wax say to the furniture wax?" B replies, "Now stop that, you know we can't do polish jokes here."

_________________________
TEd

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#100768 - 04/23/03 09:21 PM Re: polish means to bring a shine to
Capfka Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 06/28/02
Posts: 1624
Loc: Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok
Ha! I loved the "pillar of truth" series in BC, myself. "Whitey will prevail!". ZOT!


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#100769 - 04/26/03 09:12 AM Re: polish means to bring a shine to
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/25/00
Posts: 3439
Loc: New England, USA
what did the car wax say to the furniture wax?" ... "Now stop that, you know we can't do polish jokes here."

Reminds me of the comic set in a newsroom... man says into phone "He's not here, he's out waxing poetic." The next frame shows a man polishing a car and the license tag reads "Poetic."

Skivvy :[ according to OED - "(noun and verb) a female domestic servant; a person whose job is regarded menial or poorly paid; (noun) underwear comprising vest and underpants; an undershirt or vest; a thin, high-necked pullover."
In my youth the word skivvy implied that the person (male or fenmale) was uneducated - perhaps only able to write their name - if that - and more probably unable to read or write, often an immigrant who barely spoke English. The skivvy was often taken advantage of by mean employers.
And I mean "mean" in the meanest way!!!!
In some ways, times haven't changed much have they?



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#100770 - 04/28/03 06:14 PM Re: Note for newcomers
anchita Offline
journeyman

Registered: 04/21/03
Posts: 67
"don't like the weather? wait five minutes, it'll be different!"

I've heard that for Texas. Is it used for other places too?


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