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#202928 10/24/11 12:05 PM
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"Errand" means going somewhere to get something. My understanding of "Fool's Errand" is that a beginner in some group, e.g. employment, is sent to obtain something that sounds plausible but does not exist, such as a reel of #8 screw threads. This is not inconsistent with the AWAD e-magazine, but much more specific.

RonDavis #202938 10/25/11 12:43 AM
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Going somewhere to get something is an example of an errand, but today when I left the house to run errands I took lunch to my wife at work, went to the radio station to record an ad for a play, to the bank to make a deposit, to the orchestra office to explain an expenditure. The only thing I "got" was a receipt for the deposit! I think of an errand as going somewhere to accomplish something.

Peter

RonDavis #202939 10/25/11 01:33 AM
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Hi, Ron--nice to see you here again! To your "Errand" means going somewhere to get something. , I would add ...or do something.

Aside: if I tried to get all members here to agree on what "should" be posted, then I'd be on a fool's errand.

Jackie #202944 10/25/11 06:11 AM
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What, you mean rules, Jackie? Where's the fun in that?

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There are those who have their own 'unwritten' rules
on the site, and are upset when others don't follow them.


----please, draw me a sheep----
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Well, I have one "rule" that I'll state again: please, let's not act ugly towards each other.

Jackie #202956 10/26/11 07:25 AM
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Yup.

Jackie #202961 10/26/11 12:56 PM
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At first, I thought errand might be related to errant (as in knight errant) 'roving, wandering', but a quick trip to the dictionary fixed that assumption. It's from the Old English ǣrend 'message, embassy, news, tidings'.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.

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