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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21 |
Hi folks, I just wanted to post a brief introduction (in lieu of placing a puff notice in my profile) before attempting to post anything of significance.
I've been a reader of these forums for some time and have been quite impressed with the level of scholarship and research in the area of word-related issues. (I have also been alarmed to see the (usual?) turf wars, which is one of the reasons I have hesitated to join in an active way and been satisfied with vicarious participation.)
I am a serious, albeit amateur, linguaphile. I hope that the serious part of me doesn't get in the way of posing some interesting questions and partaking of some intelligent discussions.
Eventually, with a minimum of cozening, I will post in the other forums.
Oh, don't be overly alarmed by the Username; I had to come up with something and I was feeling contrary to the effort of being original.
the Contrarian
the Contrarian
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
Welcome to the madhouse :)
If you like language and other issues and a certain amount of light-hearted banter, pull up a chair and join in. You say you have been satisfied with vicarious pleasures ~ that's good, we have at least two here.
That name's a mouthful - can I call you TC? or was it to tease us ;)
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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Welcome, Contrarian! Hope you enjoy it here, despite the usual blights than can befall any public message board.
[cozen]I look forward to your posts. [/cozen] (AHD4 def.2)
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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Aw, Anna--there you go, cozening up again!  Oh, yes--what's a puff notice, please?
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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what's a puff notice, please?
When the African Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) is disturbed, it puffs itself up to appear larger than its normal size. Being larger than life makes it more likley to be noticed by others. When this occurs, it is known as "puff notice." TheContrarian obviously wished to behave in a manner different from that of serpents, hence the lack of a "Bio" in the Profile.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21 |
That's not far off the mark, Father Steve. I was taking off from puff piece, wherein the praise would be snarkily self-promoting.
puff piece - An approving or flattering article, as in That was really a puff piece about the conductor, written by her cousin. The use of puff for "exaggerated praise" dates from about 1600; piece was added in the mid-1900s. [AHD of Idioms]
the Contrarian
the Contrarian
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 21 |
>can I call you TC?
That's tC to you, mav. I wouldn't want to put on la-de-da airs.
the Contrarian
the Contrarian
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Ah, but could you put on a squonk opera?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
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formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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snarkily
the adverbial form of snarky/snarkier/snarkiest
Defined by AHD-4 2000 as "irritable or short-tempered; irascible."
The etymology offered by AHD is "From dialectal snark, to nag, from snark, snork, to snore, snort, from Dutch and Low German snorken, of imitative origin."
I like it.
Sounds to me like it oughta have something to do with Lewis Carroll.
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