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#28831 - 05/31/01 07:13 AM Mooching
Bean Offline
old hand

Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 1156
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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#28832 - 05/31/01 07:56 AM Re: Mooching
maverick Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/15/00
Posts: 4757
Whereas here (or in my ideolect, not sure which) mooch means to stew around somewhat aimlessly - like 'hang out'.


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#28833 - 05/31/01 08:00 AM Re: Sheep men, Goat Boys and Skipping
RhubarbCommando Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 08/23/00
Posts: 2204
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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#28834 - 05/31/01 08:10 AM Re: Sheep men, Goat Boys and Skipping
maverick Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/15/00
Posts: 4757
Ah! The same Anglo-Welsh speaker who was one of the few to set out the correct orthography of Llareggub


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#28835 - 05/31/01 08:47 AM Re: Separate the English from the Dutch
maverick Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/15/00
Posts: 4757
"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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#28836 - 05/31/01 10:28 AM Re: Mooching
Bobyoungbalt Offline
veteran

Registered: 11/22/00
Posts: 1289
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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#28837 - 05/31/01 11:03 AM Re: Mooching
maverick Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 09/15/00
Posts: 4757
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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