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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2 |
I recently wanted to use the expression "when things go ary (not correct spelling)", but then realised I had no idea how to spell the last word. My Word spellcheck and numerous search on Google (until I has brandished as an automated searcher/spam robot) came up with nothing.
Has anybody perhaps come across this expression and can help me out regarding the spelling of this word.
Maybe there is even a good etymological story behind the expression you can share. From my searches it is clear there are quite a few people who have no consensus on the spelling and probably the background of this phrase although they continue to use it (mostly in speech).
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Did you no mean "when things go awry"? reference
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2 |
Yes, thanks. I just had the pronunciation wrong.
Last edited by vanderoux; 09/30/09 07:16 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
It's spelled awry, and it's related to the adjective wry as in "wry humor". Wry is from a Middle English verb wrien 'to turn'. It is related to English writhe, Latin vertere 'to turn' from PIE *wer- 'to turn'; also versus.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 390 |
It's spelled awry, and it's related to the adjective wry as in "wry humor". Wry is from a Middle English verb wrien 'to turn'. It is related to English writhe, Latin vertere 'to turn' from PIE *wer- 'to turn'; also versus. is it related to agley?
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
is it related to agley?
Only semantically, not etymologically.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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