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stranger
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I heard this term on a show on BBC America & I had to wonder not only about the meaning but about the derivation... Its obviously a derogatory term, but what specifically does it mean & where does it come from?
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Pooh-Bah
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Apparently it's mostly spelled with an "a" and I doubt if it has a special etymology http://www.bartleby.com/61/59/L0185925.html
dalehileman
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dale, I think linguo is hoping to understand the phrase "flannel merchant" not linguaphile.
welcome, linguo! and I've never heard the phrase flannel merchant.
as you say, it is a British usage, and hopefully, one of us from those parts will inform us!
Last edited by etaoin; 10/16/07 04:14 PM.
formerly known as etaoin...
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I've never heard the expression. All I can contribute is that "flannel" means washcloth in the UK...
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and note that linguo spells his username with an o - probly because linguaphile is reserved or summat.
-ron o.
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and note that linguo spells his username with an o - probly because linguaphile is reserved or summat.
-ron o. o.O oops.
formerly known as etaoin...
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From about those parts; From Collins humongous Eng. Dictionary, specially published for their 175 years birthday.
flannel: 1. a soft light woolen fabric
There's 8 definitions in total.
8. Brit. informal:verb; to talk evasively to; flatter in order to mislead
The same dictionary gives for merchant: 6 definitions of which 5. derogatary: a person dealing or involved in something undesirable: a gossip merchant
Maybe the two are also used combined?
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addict
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A flannel merchant is a sycophant.
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A flannel merchant is a sycophant. but why?
formerly known as etaoin...
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I think the question has boiled down to "why did 'flannel' come to mean to talk evasively to; flatter in order to mislead."
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Not the why yet, but apparently the word goes around: From sport.scotsman.com
>>But he is no flannel merchant, is deadly serious about his work and must have convinced most of his media audience of the genuineness and depth of his desire to restore Hibs to the upper echelon of the SPL. <<
twitter.com
>>New insult of the day: Flannel Merchant 04:52 PM September 02, 2007 <http://twitter.com/DarkElf109/statuses/243275682> from web>>
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I've also googled the term, Branshea, and I am going to guess the US equivalent is "snake-oil salesman."
Sycophant sounds a little too narrow, but it seems on the right track, Hydra.
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I've also googled the term, Branshea, and I am going to guess the US equivalent is "snake-oil salesman." That seems more openly treacherous than flannel merchant. British understatement, I guess. Sycophant makes me think of a psychotic elephant. But I think it comes pretty close to the meaning of flannel merchant. "He thought he saw a sycophant, that practised on a fife: He looked again, and found it was a letter to his wife, "At lenght I realise", he said, "The bitterness of Life!" (just kidding ) (paraphrasing Lewis Caroll)
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Sycophant makes me think of a psychotic elephant.
I like Psychophant. It's got some real possibilities.
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Pooh-Bah
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I've also heard "you're talking a lot of flannel" used in a context that indicated an equivalent to "you're talking through your hat." ("Last of the Summer Wine") crossthread: Ooooh I do know two hat sayings.
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