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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
My new word for the day is ructions, which is apparently a fairly common term across the pond.
Ructions is perhaps a shortening of insurrection, and means a noisy fight or disturbance. I am told by a British friend that it is used in the plural, although the various online dictionaries seem to define it in the singular.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
mmm. it could be from ruccus.. more than one ruccus would be a collection of ruccuses, or ructions..
now i have to go find out what a ruccus is. (i know my sisters and i used to have them.. or cause them..
but then, when i was also told i looked like the wreck of the hesperous when my blouse was pulled out from the waist band of my skirt..
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Hmm... why does this remind me of burping?
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Because you live in upstate New York. That's quite sufficient explanation ... 
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
> Ructions is perhaps a shortening of insurrection
So I see a dictionary speculates, but I would have thought it's infinitely more likely to come from destruction in its singular form, and then post facto to have gained the plural form by addition of the final /s/. However, I'd be interested to hear what the OED has on this WAG [grumblegrumble]
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
Of obscure origin, but in the 1831 cite, connected with insurrection.
TEd
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Because you live in upstate New York. That's quite sufficient explanation ...
Well, we *do have good beer here, even by Brit or Belgian standards.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Well, we *do have good beer here, even by Brit or Belgian standards.
I'd like to believe you, Betsy, I really would. But ...
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