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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1
stranger
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stranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1 |
a friend has used the expression 'I've reached my harrar' meaning that he's reached his limits of patience/ability/energy. Of course when I asked him how to spell this word he didn't know and I can't find it in the dictionary or google, though there is a city in Ethiopia named Harar, and it is a walled city, and perhaps the expression comes from someone not being able to conquer that city. There is also a city in France that is called Hyeres, which is pronounced long e yar, so maybe that is where the expression came from. My mom thinks it could be from someone trying to write here in a southern accent, as in 'I've had it up to here' (h'yar) but that isn't quite the same meaning. When I used the expression a friend asked if I had learned it from AWAD, so I thought I'd write to you to see if you have any idea where this expression originated, and what from. My friend is from southern New Jersey, and maybe it is an expression that comes from there.
Thanks fo any thoughts you might have.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
There is also the indo-pakistani name "Hariar," which also has an ancient Norse meaning of 'warrior' or 'army'. http://www.nordicnames.de/pojk_a/-ar.htmlIn Maithili it means "green." http://www.lisindia.net/Maithili/Maith_struct.htmlI infer it may also mean "sprouting" or "greening" http://ling.lll.hawaii.edu/faculty/stampe/AA-pj/murmu-santals-bangla-desh%3Bsantmarcen_files/santmarcen.html Perhaps it could mean something like "the end growth potential." Wild guess.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Harrar is also an Ethiopian type of coffee beans. So maybe the friend is overexited due to drinking too many Starbuck's Harrar coffees or up to the point where he's in need of one. Harrar -link
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Hi sm
Where is your friend from? I am wondering if this is a regionalism.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Yo, zed -- sm said the friend is from South NJ: this looks like a job for Juan!
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
perhaps since Harar (var. Harrar, Hārer, Harer) is a far-off city in Ethiopia, it's treated by this person in the manner of a Timbuktu, or any faraway place. link
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Yo, zed -- sm said the friend is from South NJ: this looks like a job for Juan! d'oh! And I read it. I thought.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
I do this all the time. What'd you say?
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Two things come to my mind: an elision, Southern-style, of here y'are (here you are); or maybe hurrah, as in last. I know one's 'last hurrah' is supposed to be positive, but it IS "last".
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