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#211598 07/04/13 02:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
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wsieber Offline OP
old hand
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old hand
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I found this phrase in a financial news bulletin:

The European Central Bank left its key interest rates unchanged Thursday, maintaining accommodative policy as the euro zone struggles to pull itself together after nearly two years of contraction.

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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yes, but what is funny in this?

Contraction

NOUN:
*The act of contracting or the state of being contracted.
*A word, as won't from will not, or phrase, as o'clock from of the clock, formed by omitting or combining some of the sounds of a longer phrase.

*The formation of such a word.
*Physiology The shortening and thickening of functioning muscle or muscle fiber.
*A period of decreased business activity.

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J
veteran
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J
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In the USA the phrase pull yourself together means to control your emotions so you can function, so I can see where the juxtaposition of phrases within "...to pull itself together after nearly two years of contraction" might be considered funny.

No? Oh well, I'll laugh anyway. laugh laugh

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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I just figured it was funny because contacting is already pulling together, no?


formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yes, I see, sorry wsieber. I didn't see it. :-) Sorry too this redundancy is a square reality.

Joined: Dec 2008
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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Sounds like tautology to me!!


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