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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread blunting #116057 11/15/2003 6:36 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 "Sophy, shut up in a back room, glancing down from her work into a sooty little strip of garden with a pump in it. But there I always found her, the same bright housewife; often humming her Devonshire ballads when no strange foot was coming up the stairs, and blunting the sharp boy in his official closet with melody. I understand that there is a play of words (blunt vs. sharp) but it is not clear to me what it means. I challenge members for a translation that does not speak ill of Sophy's singing. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: blunting #116058 11/18/2003 5:08 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta I think the idea is that she's softening the sharp boy's heart, making him keep less of an eye open for the main chance, and more susceptible to tender emotions. Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: blunting #116059 11/18/2003 1:47 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 Dear Bingley: I'm not sure I know all the implications of "the main chance". Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: blunting #116060 11/19/2003 2:43 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta Bingley Carpal Tunnel Bingley Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,065 Jakarta advance of self-interest, not necessarily in the most ethical manner. Bingley Bingley Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: blunting #116061 11/19/2003 9:00 AM Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,692 UK dxb Pooh-Bah dxb Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,692 UK Thank you for the quotation, Dr Bill. It took me back to David Copperfield to re-read the last few chapters just for the sake of the happy ending! All the loose ends tied up in inimitable fashion! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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