|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Whence?
I have an inkling, but my inklings have proven wrong before...
in the trenches
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
I've always assumed that it means (and derives from) being the thrird to use a litŠ match will usually get you burned.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
... OK, and I've assumed that when you're sharing one match to light three cigarettes in a trench, said triangularization pinpoints y'all to the enemy.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 444
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 444 |
I also understood this is why many soldiers smoke with their hand cupped over and around the cigarette - it makes the light much less visible.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981 |
>smoke with their hand cupped over and around the cigarette
gives you those attractive yellow hands too!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
Dear AnnS
When I was a child the family went to a country hotel for vacations and the handy man was a Scot, known to us only as "Bucko" who had fought in the Boer War as a teenager. We children were very fond of him. He was an amazing golfer and always made time to help us with our shots. He had some amazing stories including the one about three on a match and the snipers. I was reminded of "Bucko" when I watched the Masterpiece Theater presentaion of "Bramwell" last night as the episode centered on the early days of the Boer War. And then, up pops AnnaS' query!
Tsuwm's link appears to bear out "Bucko's" story.
wow
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
"Word has it" that the third on a match will die in a whorehouse... 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
Allo AnnaS,
The explanations above seem to make sense...the only thing I am curious about is where on earth you heard this expression. I can't be all that common anymore because matches are somewhat out of use (when it comes to lighting cigarettes at least). I am not sure about everywhere else but most everybody here uses lighters.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17 |
still catching on to following threads etc. I first heard reference to one's being third on a match during military training prior to a tour in Vietnam. The reference indicates the imminent demise of that third party thusly: light a match to ignite your own smoke, the enemy (V C snipers) is alerted to your collective presence; pass the match to a second party, the enemy can sight in; pass the match to the third smoker, the shooter pulls the trigger with deadly aim.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,809
Members9,187
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
832
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
