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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
Here, to mooch is to borrow or ask for something, without intent of repaying - like "Can I mooch a ride off you?" or "Can I mooch a tea bag?" "You're such a mooch!" (to the person mooching). Nothing to do with skipping school!
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
Whereas here (or in my ideolect, not sure which) mooch means to stew around somewhat aimlessly - like 'hang out'.
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
I'm not at all sure how mitch is spelled!
I have taken the spelling from "Under Milk Wood", where the great Mr Thomas refers to the schoolboys "playing mychims," which I understand to mean playing hookey. (Another term that is occasionally used over here, although I believe it is of USA provenance)
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
Ah! The same Anglo-Welsh speaker who was one of the few to set out the correct orthography of Llareggub
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
"Dutch readers should perhaps look away ... In the seventeenth century, the Dutch and British were enemies. Both wanted maritime superiority for economic reasons, especially control of the sea routes from the rich spice islands of the East Indies. The two countries fought three wars.... " http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-dut1.htm
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Maverickian mooching Sounds like what was called, in my very brief career as a drill sergeant, "milling about in orderly fashion". (The command: Ready : MILL!)
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
Love it - but I suppose it makes as much sense as inviting overburdened pongos on parade to STAAAA-ND EASY! Apparently my usage of this term is not just an ideolect: http://www.lunaticantics.com/andyslater/beachcombing
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