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#18379 02/05/01 04:04 AM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Whence?
I have an inkling, but my inklings have proven wrong before...


in the trenches


#18380 02/05/01 04:11 AM
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I've always assumed that it means (and derives from) being the thrird to use a litŠ match will usually get you burned.


#18381 02/05/01 04:21 AM
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... OK, and I've assumed that when you're sharing one match to light three cigarettes in a trench, said triangularization pinpoints y'all to the enemy.


#18382 02/05/01 04:44 AM
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looks like there may be some truth to the trench-theory, but it had to do with duration, not triangulation.

http://www.shu.ac.uk/web-admin/phrases/bulletin_board/3/messages/66.html


#18383 02/05/01 10:31 AM
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addict
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I also understood this is why many soldiers smoke with their hand cupped over and around the cigarette - it makes the light much less visible.


#18384 02/05/01 01:32 PM
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jmh Offline
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>smoke with their hand cupped over and around the cigarette

gives you those attractive yellow hands too!


#18385 02/05/01 06:17 PM
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Dear AnnS
When I was a child the family went to a country hotel for vacations and the handy man was a Scot, known to us only as "Bucko" who had fought in the Boer War as a teenager. We children were very fond of him. He was an amazing golfer and always made time to help us with our shots. He had some amazing stories including the one about three on a match and the snipers. I was reminded of "Bucko" when I watched the Masterpiece Theater presentaion of "Bramwell" last night as the episode centered on the early days of the Boer War. And then, up pops AnnaS' query!
Tsuwm's link appears to bear out "Bucko's" story.
wow


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"Word has it" that the third on a match will die in a whorehouse...


#18387 02/05/01 10:14 PM
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Allo AnnaS,

The explanations above seem to make sense...the only thing I am curious about is where on earth you heard this expression. I can't be all that common anymore because matches are somewhat out of use (when it comes to lighting cigarettes at least). I am not sure about everywhere else but most everybody here uses lighters.




#18388 02/13/01 01:54 AM
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still catching on to following threads etc. I first heard reference to one's being third on a match during military training prior to a tour in Vietnam. The reference indicates the imminent demise of that third party thusly: light a match to ignite your own smoke, the enemy (V C snipers) is alerted to your collective presence; pass the match to a second party, the enemy can sight in; pass the match to the third smoker, the shooter pulls the trigger with deadly aim.


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