|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Yup, well in some cases I don't do Windows either. I converted my old, very slow PC to Linux a month or so ago. I call it "the Unfenestration of Irchester"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
TEd
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3
stranger
|
stranger
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3 |
(to throw) A tub to the whale
Seems an odd idiom for "diversion" to us modern, land locked types.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
addict
|
addict
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500 |
(to throw) a tub to the whale Is this a translation from another language? It does sound odd! Welcome to the monkey house, alcove!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
Sounds like it means giving someone in trouble some totally inadequate help.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Of course it's transitive. Cf transom.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
Iain:
Welcome to our little bedlam. Can you tell us the context of this phrase?
I knew Jonah was pretty fat, but I didn't ever notice that he was called any epithets in the Bible.
Though few know of the fate that eventually befell Jonah. He was eaten by a gigantic chicken. And thus we have the phrase "out of the leviathan into the fryer."
Sorry. Most of the old timers here have heard that before, but it's one of my favorites.
TEd
TEd
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 24
stranger
|
stranger
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 24 |
Or, "it's like getting blood from a turnip."
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
My goodness gracious, beanie--it is GOOD to see you again! It's been way too long! 
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 16
stranger
|
stranger
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 16 |
Actually, when one stops to think about it, almost all idiomatic expressions are unintelligible when they are read literally. It's a common problem with ESLs.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|