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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618
addict
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OP
addict
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618 |
Surprised by some rapid posting, I decided to check 'Who's Online'. Living as I do in a timezone shared by very few others, and hence not used to the presence of others on the board cotemporaneously and at the same time, I commented to self "There are more users online that you can poke a stick at". This:
1) was the first sign of madness
b) was doubtfully true, depending on the size of the stick, and
iii) caused me to question the origin of the term "there are more ... that you can poke a stick at".
I have since decided that I am not mad, and I don't even have a stick, but I need some help with iii? Any takers?
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1 |
I'll make one up for you:
Go back to the Dark Ages, when vampires were widely feared. Now grab a stick, even better a wooden cross but a stick will do as a stake if you need one, and poke it at the vampire. (I learned it as "shake a stick at," but it's the same thing, I think). You're really in trouble if there are too many of them - more than you can shake a stick at. (Not "that," I note.)
Good imagination? Anywhere near reality or did I just create another urban legend?
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
nice wolf, but think of a small herdsman, tending the sheep.. usually the small fire he builds, and his presence is enough to keep the wolf at bay.. and when one does come round, he take his crook, and bops it on the head.. (or better yet he pokes it good in the ribs with the pointy end.. )
and then, a cold winter day.. he get not a lone wolf, or two or three hunting together.. but more wolfs than you could poke a stick at.. a large pack.. and the herd is ...oops, almost said decimated.. lets just leave it with the wolfs winning...
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409 |
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,546 Likes: 1 |
OK, your explanation is certainly as good as mine :-)
Off the subject: "decimated" is an oft-misunderstood word, . We tend to think it means wiped out, i.e. reduced to only one-tenth of its original size - but it's really much less virulent, and means reduced by one-tenth.
Do I see the makings of a theme? "Scan" is another misunderstood word, meaning not to look over hastily and superficially, as many assume, but rather to scrutinize carefully and in great detail. ("We're being scanned, Captain.") Can you think of many other words like these two?
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094 |
"Scan" is another misunderstood word, meaning not to look over hastily and superficially, as many assume, but rather to scrutinize carefully and in great detail.
Well, with that and peruse, then what the heck do we have for a brief look-over?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Singularly enough [what famous literary character was fond of that expression] Max, you and I seem to be often on the board at the same time, although it's generally around midnight here and I believe mid-morning there, and not the same day.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
Living as I do in a timezone shared by very few others
Though likely by more than share mine, ya past-dwelling Aussie.
Or, indeed, mine.
Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,156 |
then what the heck do we have for a brief look-over?
I believe that's skim. Or that's what I learned, anyway.
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