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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
In November of 2001, the general secretary of a British teachers' union, Nigel de Gruchy, was accused of calling classroom teaching assistants "pig ignorant peasants." What a lovely and evocative phrase!
My own experience with pigs, not unlike that of Lord Emsworth at Blandings Castle, is that they are rather clever. I once raised a pig, during my undergraduate years, by the name of Orwell, who was quite capable of unlatching gates in fences and other witty tricks. He also had a quite engaging sense of humour.
One wonders if this phrase is a slander of pigs and a compliment to peasants? One also wonders whatever became of Mr. de Gruchy?
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
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He's now retired from his role as capo of the NASUWT, my wife's teaching union (hah!). He had some pithy comments about politicos at his departure: A teachers' leader has said that politicians have been the biggest problem facing teachers in his 33 years as a union official.
Nigel de Gruchy of the NASUWT said most of them were "ambitious, self-seeking, self-opinionated rogues".
lots more good stuff at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1911096.stm:)
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
"Rogues" is good. We don't use rogues much here in the Colonies, either.
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 114
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Posts: 114 |
We don't use rogues much here in the Colonies, either.
Quite true, Father Steve. Mostly, they use us.
As for pigs, at least they bring home the bacon.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
I like "pig-ignorant", and I believe that it's because it has a certain onomatopoeic quality ... you can really spit it out when you're angry! 
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
The farmers and ranchers in Eastern Washington use the expression "dummer-na-stump" (a contraction of "dumber than a stump"), not so much because it is an apt comparison but because the "um" sound which is repeated fits nicely in the mouth.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
a certain onomatopoeic quality You took the words right out of my fingers, CK [blowing kiss e], though maybe more sound-alike satisfying than onomatopeoic. Pig-ig.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Dumber than a wooden watch.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500
addict
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addict
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 500 |
I like "Dumber than a bag of hammers"
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
couple of fries short of a Happy MealŪ.
formerly known as etaoin...
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