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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 4,757 |
I heard a familiar word today on the radio that was being used in a way quite unfamiliar to me It is a typical language scenario where a noun has (by a process of synecdoche) come to stand for a complete activity, and by a back-formation has then spawned a new noun to describe the er, participants in this social activity. If I tell you that, like Sherlock, it's a case of the dog that did not bark, can you guess the term? I believe it is a UKism, but please share if any of you know otherwise…!
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear mav: I got nowhere, but it sounds like fun.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
You know this is going to bug me until I get back to a computer on Tuesday!
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear Mav: with 33 views, and not attempts at a solution, I suggest giving us some clues.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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More clues? I'd be barking mad in public
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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My guess is that whatever it is, it isn't an USnism.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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USnism
One of the thangs that innerested me, as a new term in my lexicon, was that initial googling threw up millions of US usages, but in a whole nother context...
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
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OK, mav. I suspect that "woof woof" may be a clue, because there are many other dog vocal expressions you could have used."woof" can also be a weaving term. But that does not suggest any further step to me.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
Dawgone it, Bill, you just want the nekkid truth or what?
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