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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I'd always heard "apres nous le deluge" attributed to Mme de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV.
Bingley
Bingley
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OP
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Dear Bingley: I too thought it was attributed to Madame Pompadour, who had more brains than Louis XVI. I just happened to find it attributed to Louie Blooie in what seemed a scholarly article. You can find it attributed to bothe sources. Incidentally, "brains" is a brainless phrase, isn't it?
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old hand
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old hand
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"brains" is a brainless phrase, isn't it?
Perhaps "brains" is slang in referring to intelligence, but it would be perfectly fine in a sentence such as:
The soldier's boots were spattered with blood and brains.
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Carpal Tunnel
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From reading about the Wizard of Oz giving "brains" to the Tin Woodsman, was it? I used to thing "brains" were tiny pellets of some kind. Or was it the Scarecrow?
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old hand
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old hand
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Good observation, Bill.
We say: "I have my wits about me" or "you would think I hadn't any brains!" Both are plural, meaning about the same thing. Perhaps brains is a carry-over of wits?
I recall reading a book by a Scottish author who used the phrase "he hasn't brains enough to fill a thimble." Always thought that was funny.
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