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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 21
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 21 |
"Errand" means going somewhere to get something. My understanding of "Fool's Errand" is that a beginner in some group, e.g. employment, is sent to obtain something that sounds plausible but does not exist, such as a reel of #8 screw threads. This is not inconsistent with the AWAD e-magazine, but much more specific.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963 |
Going somewhere to get something is an example of an errand, but today when I left the house to run errands I took lunch to my wife at work, went to the radio station to record an ad for a play, to the bank to make a deposit, to the orchestra office to explain an expenditure. The only thing I "got" was a receipt for the deposit! I think of an errand as going somewhere to accomplish something.
Peter
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Hi, Ron--nice to see you here again! To your "Errand" means going somewhere to get something. , I would add ...or do something.
Aside: if I tried to get all members here to agree on what "should" be posted, then I'd be on a fool's errand.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963 |
What, you mean rules, Jackie? Where's the fun in that?
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,974 Likes: 3 |
There are those who have their own 'unwritten' rules
on the site, and are upset when others don't follow them.
----please, draw me a sheep----
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Well, I have one "rule" that I'll state again: please, let's not act ugly towards each other.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963
old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 963 |
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
At first, I thought errand might be related to errant (as in knight errant) 'roving, wandering', but a quick trip to the dictionary fixed that assumption. It's from the Old English ǣrend 'message, embassy, news, tidings'.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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