Fabric Words used metaphorically

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#203050 - 11/04/11 02:58 AM Fabric Words used metaphorically
Umber stranger Registered: 03/06/10 Posts: 3 Loc: UK	Flannel is used in the UK to describe plausible untruths. "You are speaking a load of flannel". "That person's a flanneler". I believe the expressions were prevalent during the war years. Edited by Umber (11/04/11 03:07 AM)
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#203062 - 11/04/11 08:10 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: Umber]
Candy Pooh-Bah Registered: 09/21/10 Posts: 1705 Loc: down under	Hi Umber I've not come across that saying before....I wonder if its like a saying we have down under "load of old cods wollop" as in an untrue statement or remark!
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#203066 - 11/04/11 11:33 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: Candy]
bexter addict Registered: 11/17/10 Posts: 677 Loc: Middle Earth	hehe I haven't heard that for AGES! Also use it to say how useless people are when doing something or asking them do something for you: "You're worse than a wet flannel", or a bit pathetic "ach, stop being such a wet flannel". Ah the English English language is wonderfully expansive _________________________ ----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
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#203084 - 11/05/11 03:28 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: Candy]
Tromboniator addict Registered: 05/10/10 Posts: 690 Loc: Alaska	Originally Posted By: Candy cods wollop Candy, I've seen this as one word often enough (Rowling's Rubeus Hagrid is fond of it, for example), but never as two. Is two the fashion down under?
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#203086 - 11/05/11 03:44 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: Umber]
Candy Pooh-Bah Registered: 09/21/10 Posts: 1705 Loc: down under	I'm not sure Peter. I hear it often but I don't recall seeing it written.
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#203087 - 11/05/11 04:53 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: Candy]
Tromboniator addict Registered: 05/10/10 Posts: 690 Loc: Alaska	There doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. It may or may not have started as two words, but its first known appearance in print, second half of 20th century, has it as one word. Here is Michael Quinion's explanation, which should be better than most.
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#203090 - 11/05/11 11:13 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: Umber]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5249 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	Would in this case flannel be a more civilized equal to bullshit? Umber?
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#203101 - 11/06/11 04:15 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: bexter]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5249 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	Originally Posted By: bexter Also use it to say how useless people are when doing something or asking them do something for you: "You're worse than a wet flannel", or a bit pathetic "ach, stop being such a wet flannel". Ah the English English language is wonderfully expansive We use something similar though it's mostly used in team sports : "You play like a wet newspaper". Flannel of course has more elegance.
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#203114 - 11/07/11 07:45 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: BranShea]
bexter addict Registered: 11/17/10 Posts: 677 Loc: Middle Earth	We are by nature, an elegant tongue even if people are beginning to misuse and forget that grammar exists _________________________ ----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
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#203117 - 11/07/11 09:51 AM Re: Fabric Words used metaphorically [Re: bexter]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13654	Originally Posted By: bexter We are by nature, an elegant tongue even if people are beginning to misuse and forget that grammar exists Or either that or ignoring zombie rules, one.
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