Though not the official symbol of the Irish Republic (the Harp) a very popular symbol. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock with its three leaves on one stalk to illustrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity when he was converting the natives to Christianity.
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
Ernest Dowson (1900) Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam
I think you do very well to concentrate your sense of verbal disgust on a few well-chosen words. There are few that I hate more than your "impact" as verb. Maybe if we all concentrated very hard on hating the same word for a day we could help it to disappear in shame!
An Italian obsession. The worst thing you can do is make a "brutta figura" = cut a bad figure means embarrass yourself either by your lack of dress sense or, more generally, by doing/saying something stupid.
The opposite is "bella figura".
An interesting new turn in German idiom, coined by the Italian football manager Giovanni Trapattoni a few years ago when he managed Bayern Muenchen. Trapattoni is also considered a grand master of his own language with passion usually getting the better of syntax.
Jan 16, 2008
Comments for misterpolly
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.
misterpolly commented on the word ken
Do you ken John Peel?
Feb 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word dream whip
"Would you like some more dream whip?" the actress asked the bishop.
Feb 18, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word shamrock
Though not the official symbol of the Irish Republic (the Harp) a very popular symbol. Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock with its three leaves on one stalk to illustrate the mystery of the Holy Trinity when he was converting the natives to Christianity.
Feb 18, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list beautiful-music
Great list! I love 'em all, except for "verismo" which produced some of the worst rubbish ever to come out of Italy.
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word gioioso
Not only a beautiful meaning, also a beautiful sound and fascinating look (io io o). A poet could not but be gay in such a jocund company.
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word lyric opera
Italian uses this (opera lirica) simply to mean what we call opera. "Opera" in Italian is an artistic creation of any kind (opus).
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word stopping
Double stopping - playing two notes on a violin (or the like) on two adjacent strings.
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list in-my-day
Ah! Nostalgia is not what it used to be!
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word knuckle dragger
A sort of modern-day Neanderthal!
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word white knuckle
A white-knuckle ride - for example: a ride on a roller coaster at the fairground.
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word isn’t an agnostic just an atheist without balls
Richard Dawkins (he of "The Selfish Gene" and "The God Delusion") says much the same thing, though in gentler tone.
Feb 13, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word non compis mentis
non compos mentis
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word french kiss of death
Too much garlic in their cuisine!
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list latinese-2
in seculo seculorum
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list latinese-2
Keep it up - this is a useful one.
Verb. sat. sap.
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list pubs
Great list. Have you had a pint in all of them? I like a pub called the "Doctor Syntax".
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word dauerschlaf
To sleep, perchance to dream. Aye, there's the rub!
Do you wake up again from this one?
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word chav
A scornful expression coined for the lower classes by the ladies of Cheltenham Ladies' School in England. From CHeltenham AVerage.
Feb 7, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word em
A small space in typography, just a bit longer than an "en".
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word prepone
So what you get would be a preposition and what you do would be a preponement?
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word zorbing
I know lots of people I'd like to involve in this "sport"! Where can I buy a giant hollow ball? (I'll find the steep hill.)
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word fowk
Nowt so queer as fowk.
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word bordello
Italian for brothel. Now commonly used in Italy to mean:
either a lot of something
or a mess.
Same can be said of its synonym "casino" (not casinò).
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word golden hind sight
Ah! Isn't it always?
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word knee trembler
An old-fashioned Spike Milligan type of word. It is a quickie behind the gasworks.
Feb 4, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word wine and roses
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
Ernest Dowson (1900) Vitae summa brevis spem nos vetat incohare longam
A classier version of "Beer and skittles"
Jan 31, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word infotainment
A close relative is "infommercial" = a TV commercial spot purporting to give information.
Jan 30, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list hangover
Calling Ralph on the big white phone.
Jan 30, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list triads
Have you got "Tom, Dick and Harry"?
In Italy they are "Tizio,Caio and Sempronio".
"Ready, steady, go!"
"The good, the bad and the ugly."
Jan 29, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word eats, shouts and leaves
The monkey eats sprouts and leaves.
Jan 29, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word gonorrhea
Ah! Too late for regrets. I'm a gonner 'ere!
Jan 28, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word sleeping bag
Let sleeping bags lie.
Jan 28, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word human stain remover
I love these chains! Is the stain a human stain removed by something, or is this a person who removes stains?
Jan 28, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word love and marriage
Go together like a horse and carriage (sings).
Jan 28, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list problem-words
Nice list!
Heads you win, tails I lose.
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word aqua vitae
See also "whisky" (=uisge beatha = water of life).
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word the great unwashed
Hoi polloi!
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list words-i-hate-24
I think you do very well to concentrate your sense of verbal disgust on a few well-chosen words. There are few that I hate more than your "impact" as verb. Maybe if we all concentrated very hard on hating the same word for a day we could help it to disappear in shame!
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list peoples-is-peoples
Pussy Galore.
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list such-and-such
Tatties and neeps. Down and out. Over and out.
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word ménagerie à trois
Don't understand this one! Is it a ménage à trois or a very small zoo?
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word fo'c's'le
Always pronounced in its short version - can be written "forecastle" and is part of a ship.
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word silly mid on
A position of a fielder in cricket and one of many with funny names. See also "short leg".
Jan 27, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list across-the-pond-2
Spiffing idea, actually, palooka. Well done that man/girl
Jan 21, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word brutta figura
An Italian obsession. The worst thing you can do is make a "brutta figura" = cut a bad figure means embarrass yourself either by your lack of dress sense or, more generally, by doing/saying something stupid.
The opposite is "bella figura".
Jan 21, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word comestable
Right. So how do I get to eat a king cake in the other 11 months of the year.
Would look better if you spelt it "comestible".
Jan 21, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list malapropisms-i-ve-heard
- the commoner garden thrush
Jan 21, 2008
misterpolly commented on the list abbreviations-for-taking-notes
kd b rly usfl tks a mill
Jan 21, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word ecumenical
A Good Thing when you can get other religions to admit that they've got it wrong and yours has got it right.
Jan 21, 2008
misterpolly commented on the word »ich habe fertig!«
An interesting new turn in German idiom, coined by the Italian football manager Giovanni Trapattoni a few years ago when he managed Bayern Muenchen. Trapattoni is also considered a grand master of his own language with passion usually getting the better of syntax.
Jan 16, 2008