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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
there are 44 listings at OneLook for sleeper, even the quick definitions (which come from the public domain) are quite wide and various. also see Business, Slang, Sports & Tech.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
Quote:
or a Woody Allen movie...
In my small hometown the video store had a copy of Woody Allen's "Sleeper" but they had it in the Horror section. I was about to point out this error to them but then I thought maybe the idea of watching a Woody Allen film was horrifying to them, so I let it go.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Quote:
Fal: It is the more general def that I don't find. The usage to which I allude may not even be considered a separate meaning but an impromptu extension
But thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think "ringer" quite makes the grade
That's what I'm saying. The definition "something that achieves sudden, unexpected success" is the common one and is in every dictionary that I've looked it up in so far. The definition "anything ordinary on the outside but extraordinary inside" seems to be a specific usage of the definition of "ringer," "someone or something that has greater abilities than initally shown." The two terms seem to me to be potentially somewhat overlapping but I would use sleeper to refer to someone who had abilities that weren't evident because the sleeper didn't quite have it together and reserve ringer for one intentionally hiding the abilities.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1 |
i always understood a "sleeper" to be a person whose talents were hidden or unshown ... and then coming forward to be shown at a later date. the first time i heard it, i was playing a game of eight-ball and was a novice. when i cleaned the table in one turn, i was called a sleeper (and no, it was a fluke, never managed to do it again ) lol.
a "sleeper" is also a term for a small round gold earring for pierced ears ... generally worn when ears are first pierced to keep the holes from closing ... (sleep with them in ) ...
this was an interesting question as there are more definitions than one realizes at first thought ...
mcshell
" I have enough money to last me the rest of my life .... unless I buy something ."
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
welcome mcshell!
I agree with your usage of sleeper.
as for ringer, I would use that as in someone who is brought in to bolster a weak group. someone whose skills are well known.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Welcome Mcshell
For ringer I would add that it is often someone not entitled to be on the team. e.g. a company softball team who bring in the new secretary who can't type but who just happens to play on the women's national championship team.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
> a company softball team who bring in the new secretary who can't type but who just happens to play on the women's national championship team. like I said... 
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
This was fairly common in '30s semi-pro baseball. Satchell Paige pitched for the otherwise all-white Bismarck (N.Dak.) town team in 1937 during the Denver Post post-season tournament and brought along a bunch of other black stars in 1938.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
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Thre are some other ties to sleepers, but I won't rail about them here.
TEd
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Pooh-Bah
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OP
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jul 2005
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ted: Just wanted you to know somebody appreciates the double pun
dalehileman
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