I love the English language. it never ceases to amaze me how it works, and what sorts of things one can do with it. For example, just try explaining to a non-native speaker of English how the terms "overlook," "lookover," "look over," "see over" and "oversee" have totally different meanings and connotations.
Another fun word is "pair." It's a simple term, meaning two matching items. They don't even have to be the same thing, just complementary.
Or it can be a singular item.
A pair of pants, a pair of underwear, a pair of scissors.
I once had a bit of fun with that last one.
I dated a woman who didn't care for that term, so she would instruct her son to "go get her a scissor." After the umpteenth time of hearing that, I decided to act.
I found a pair of scissors that separated. (I can't believe that I paid over $6.00 for this cheap gag.) I smuggled them into her house, showed them to her son, and stashed them in her kitchen.
Shortly thereafter, she told him to "go get her a scissor." And the look on her face when he returned with exactly half a pair of scissors made that six bucks so, so worthwhile...
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Jay,One of my favo... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Dave A. | February 16, 2007 11:22 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jay,
One of my favorite words is "sesquipedalian." If you use it, you are it.
1. Posted by Dave A. | February 16, 2007 11:22 AM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 11:22
2. Posted by Bo | February 16, 2007 11:35 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jay, a very thoutful post, but you didn't address the burning question: why are panties a pair and a bra is a singular item?
2. Posted by Bo | February 16, 2007 11:35 AM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 11:35
3. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | February 16, 2007 11:59 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Bo,
If that's a 'burning' question, I'd say you've got bigger problems to worry about!
3. Posted by Sheik Yur Bouty | February 16, 2007 11:59 AM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 11:59
4. Posted by brian | February 16, 2007 12:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I don't want anything to do with a woman who has got anything burning in her panties!
4. Posted by brian | February 16, 2007 12:07 PM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 12:07
5. Posted by Jeff Medcalf | February 16, 2007 12:38 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
And my favorite, cleave, meaning to split apart or to join together.
5. Posted by Jeff Medcalf | February 16, 2007 12:38 PM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 12:38
6. Posted by Rodney Dill | February 16, 2007 1:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If you want to make the pants last,
make the jacket first.
6. Posted by Rodney Dill | February 16, 2007 1:02 PM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 13:02
7. Posted by Cousin Dave | February 16, 2007 1:55 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ah, yes. Trials tribulations of people shorten English language by eliminating articles conjunctions.
7. Posted by Cousin Dave | February 16, 2007 1:55 PM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 13:55
8. Posted by John | February 16, 2007 2:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Awsome gag Jay! Well worth 6 bucks. : )
8. Posted by John | February 16, 2007 2:15 PM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 14:15
9. Posted by Henry | February 16, 2007 5:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
How about "hyperpolysyllabicsesquipedalianist"
for someone who enjoys using really long words.
(from http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-ses1.htm)
9. Posted by Henry | February 16, 2007 5:21 PM |
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Posted on February 16, 2007 17:21
10. Posted by Adriane | February 17, 2007 2:53 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If you should step out of the elevator and find yourself naked ... take two deep breaths.
Because then you will have a pair of pants.
10. Posted by Adriane | February 17, 2007 2:53 AM |
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Posted on February 17, 2007 02:53