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Joined: Jan 2008
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stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2008
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Time was that "the lion's share" was ALL, not just most. I suppose the misunderstanding is now so common as to have been accepted, except for us old pedants, but it is a loss.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Hello, please Uncle Ben, could you be a little more specific about this "ALL"? I've learned since childhood (which wasn't just yesterday either) that "the lion's share" meant the largest part. I still hear my mother say to my eldest brother: " No, not you the lion's share again!"
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Ęsop's fable does seem to be the origin of the phrase. Whether it is ignorance, misunderstanding or language shift that has effected the change in meaning is up for debate. Perhaps part of the lion's share has drifted over to decimation, explaining why decimation has increased in value at the expense of the lion's share. If one were to use the phrase "lion's share" in the original meaning one would risk being misunerstood. Whether this is worse than being excoriated by the Etymological Fallacists is also up for debate.
So, tel me, Uncle Ben, outside of the fable itself have you ever heard the phrase used to mean "all" by anyone other than yourself?
Last edited by Faldage; 01/07/08 12:46 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
It makes sense, though: lions don't share. The most powerful one eats what he wants, then leaves. If there's nothing left, that's too bad for the others; if there is, they have to try and sneak a share while he's there, or wait until he leaves.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
That's civilization for you: decimation went up with inflation and the lion's share got taxed!
PS Hi and welcome Uncle Ben
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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The lion's share got taxed! The lion needs a better lawyer.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557
addict
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addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 557 |
... lions don't share. The most powerful one eats what he wants, then leaves. If there's nothing left, that's too bad for the others; if there is, they have to try and sneak a share while he's there, or wait until he leaves. It would seem most of you have not watched enough Animal Planet. Perhaps you can start with Wikipedia article about how lions hunt (note the photo caption "Sharing a zebra").
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Just like humans: sharing a zebra
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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Ah but Myridon, if you read further in the anybody-can-edit-whether-true-or-not site, you'll find "Male lions will never share food they have killed by themselves." ; which is also what I learned by watching documentaries done by National Geographic and Animal Planet.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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"Male lions will never share food they have killed by themselves." Onliest thing, they don't do that much of the killing. They usually leave it to the ladies.
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