Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#49423 12/06/01 12:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
In the loch was stuck our Nessie,
Boy, the bottom must be messy!

[Why don't they just search for the dung!...d'oh!...and DNA it?]


#49424 12/06/01 09:20 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Imagine the size of the catfish!


#49425 12/07/01 04:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Imagine the size of the catfish!

There you go, Wordwind! Open up a Southern Fried Catfish stand on the shores of Loch Ness, and you're rich! if y'all can cook, that is!...not a very gentlemanly thing to say to a Southern lady, is it? Of course you're a wizard in the kitchen, right?


#49426 12/07/01 09:52 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Everything I cook is Blackened.

Speaking of lochs, why, "You take the high road, and I'll take the low road, and I'll be in Scotland a-fore ye"?
Which roads were these?

WW


#49427 12/07/01 01:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Which roads were these?

The high road was the road through the mortal realms, the low road the one through Faerie.


#49428 12/07/01 01:29 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Interesting, Faldage. That's since gotten twisted, eh? Far as I know, in today's parlance to take "the high road" means to do the noble, good thing.


#49429 12/07/01 03:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Yes, AS, but i think that is because the High Road-- (or more common High Street) is the UK (but not scotish) equiviant of Main street-- and both main street, or high street, would be the location of the "better shops" and where the "betters" would shop. Taking the high road could be acting like nobility..

i just got around to reading the first Harry Potter book, and the bit about "Diagon Alley" is an updated version of many irish (and i suspect scotish) fairytales-- the secret, underground world of fairies and 'little people' was alway faster, than above ground.. Rowling's books plays on many themes of celtic myth, in a delightful way.

interesting how High road can have very different meaning one little island, isn't it? Its a wonder than we can understand anything said by a english language speaker from an other country!


#49430 12/08/01 03:12 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
K
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
K
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Speaking of lochs, why, "You take the high road, and I'll take the low road ..."? Which roads were these?

Here too the "two roads diverged in a yellow wood" -- apparently leading to Goldi-lochs.

As noted, the road chosen "made all the difference". Thus at this fork of the road, one choice is the best of tines, the other the worst of tines.

#49431 12/08/01 01:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
the road chosen "made all the difference".

How much easier the Yog' had it.


#49432 05/09/02 02:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Here too the "two roads diverged in a yellow wood" -- apparently leading to Goldi-lochs.

Hmmm...I didn't know Robert Frost was talking about Gallant Ted's friend. Who else do you know, GT?

The Only WO'N!

#49433 05/10/02 10:50 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
In reply to:

but i think that is because the High Road-- (or more common High Street) is the UK (but not scotish) equiviant of Main street


No, of troy. High road and high street are two very different things. The high street is, as you say, the generic equivalent of the USn Main Street. The high road is a long distance road -- think Tolkein's The Road Goes Ever On.

Traditionally to be a street, a thoroughfare had to have buildings on both sides, but that distinction is sadly declining. Oxford Street is a main shopping street in London, but when it leaves the city it used to be called the Oxford Road, until by bureaucratic whim it became the A40.

Bingley



Bingley
#49434 05/10/02 03:38 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Ah, Bingley, you wrote:

Traditionally to be a street, a thoroughfare had to have buildings on both sides, but that distinction is sadly declining. Oxford Street is a main shopping street in London, but when it leaves the city it used to be called the Oxford Road, until by bureaucratic whim it became the A40.

...

and it's just this kind of distinction that makes language so exciting and truly helpful. I regret that these kinds of distinctions die out for whatever reasons. They would do much good to those of us who have no sense of direction. If I were looking for Oak Street and were driving around on a road with buildings on one side, I'd have a most excellent clue that I wasn't in the right place!

Some good things do go by the wayside. Wonder what exactly was a wayside, come to think of it??

Best regards,
WanderingWonderer


Page 1 of 2 1 2

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