|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
> Off the wall
Ties in with the 'left field' discussion pretty well, doesn't it? Both mean unconventional or bizarre. I don't know any other use for it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 218 |
Re: Off the Wall, belligerentyouth writes I don't know any other use for it.
Back when Napster was the biggest bandwagon in the Internet, I could easily imagine "I ripped it off The Wall."
so written by another brick in the wall
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Please would some one of our OED possessors be kind enough to look up the dates of origin of this expression.?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
Twenty years ago or more I was working in DC. A noted doctor, Richard Halberstam, brother of David, came home from a party to discover a burglary in progress. The burglar burst out the door, shot Halberst in the abdomen and ran on foot. The doctor realized he was very badly wounded and set off in his car for the ER. Along the way he actually ran over the burglar, then died before reaching the hospital. The burglar, who also dealt in extremely expensive stolen property, lived next door to my boss.
Dan and I discussed the case later that week and he was extremely perplexed that this nice gentleman could lead two lives. I reminded him, of course, that good fences make good neighbors.
ALL of the foregoing is true with the possible exception of the timing of Dr. Halberstam's death. He may have made it alive to the hospital, but definitely died of his wounds.
TEd
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear TEd: If Dr. Halberstam had lived, he could have been sued by the burglar he ran over.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,915
Posts229,845
Members9,197
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
0 members (),
437
guests, and
0
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
|