Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#33506 06/25/01 07:43 AM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 41
R
Rusty Offline OP
newbie
OP Offline
newbie
R
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 41
We all know what a pyrrhic victory is.

It isn't so well known that pyrrhic is also a noun, meaning both a dance performed while wearing armour, and the metrical foot of a warsong (such as one which accompanies a pyrrhic dance).

Now for my question: what's a pyrrhic loss?


#33507 06/25/01 12:32 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
what's a pyrrhic loss?

Well, if it is a loss that is offset by staggering gains, I'd like one, please! I guess the theme song for the old TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies" describes that
(this is from memory, and may not be exact):
"Let me tell you all a story 'bout a man named Jed;
Poor mountaineer, barely kept his fam'ly fed;
And then one day, he was shootin' at some food,
And up through the ground come a-bubblin' crude---
Oil, that is. Black gold. Texas tea."
So--he lost his food, but gained an oil field.


#33508 06/25/01 12:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
The Dupont chemist who discovered Teflon when an accident happened to an experiment.


#33509 06/25/01 01:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
The candymaker who overcooked a batch of fudge and created Tootsie Rolls experienced a pyrrhic loss.


#33510 06/25/01 01:30 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
I
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
I
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,379
And the chemist who discovered the first analine dye (magenta, I believe)


#33511 06/25/01 01:37 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
And : when that mold grew in a neglected experiment ... penicillin!
Then there's the guy who wondered why burdocks stuck to his dog's fur and came up with Velcro.



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5