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Joined: Nov 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
Twice today I've heard people make rat references. The first was (and excuse the, ah, French):
...smart as a shithouse rat
and the second was
...like a rat up a drainpipe
Are these similies/metaphors used in your world(s), and does anyone know anything about their origins?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Mar 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,004 |
The one I'm familiar with:
I couldn't give a rat's arse for (what ever is being floccinaucinihilipilificated).
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
Yes, rat up a drainpipe is a very familiar saying - I take it to be based on straightforward observation of their extraordinarily nimble antics...?
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
--like a cornered rat--
for some one in a dangerous situation, and you don't have an idea of what they might do, but think only something bad can happen..
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Posts: 3,439
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439 |
"I smell a rat..." when suspicious of something said or some action that is proposed. No idea where it came from, I think its been around for ages!
wow
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
We have the usage of "rat" as an informer (grass, I believe it's called in the UK), which, in recent years has become a verb (see recent threads about verbing nouns), as in "to rat someone out." My father in law used to combine this with "fink" (meaning the same thing, but a word derived from labor unions) to make "ratfink". (Fink has also been verbed, as in "to fink on someone). My, my -- who would fink it?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218 |
It's a worrisome day when even the rats are fleeing the ship.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
Thanks folks - keep 'em coming. I feel a compilation coming on, although who, apart from me, might be interested is a mystery.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
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