Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#123710 02/23/04 04:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Date: Thu Dec 17 00:04:27 EST 1998
Subject: A.Word.A.Day--down-at-the-heel

down-at-heel (doun-at-HEEL) or down-at-the-heel adjective

1. Worn out from long use or neglect; dilapidated.

2. Shabbily dressed because of poverty; seedy.

A really obsolete phrase. When making a pair of shoes took
several hours of a skilled craftsman's time, shoes were expensive, and worn as long as possible. The heels of shoes
wear faster than the soles, and the wear is more readily
noticed. Shoe are mass-produced now, and relatively cheap.
Today few people betray their poverty by the condition of
their shoes.





#123711 02/23/04 04:40 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
and down-at-the-mouth?

is that from eating ducks?



formerly known as etaoin...
#123712 02/23/04 04:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear etaoin: My father's Chesapeake Bay Retriever was so soft mouthed he didn't mar any down.
What a dog he was. When I was small, the minute I got into
the water up to my knees, he'd come grab me by the seat of
my bathing suit, and drag me back up onto the beach. He knew
I couldn't swim.


#123713 02/25/04 05:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
I know this much better as down-at-heel, with no 'the'.

Bingley


Bingley

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