How odd! I can't find a citation for this one, but I'm sure I didn't make it up. Anyway, it means "to review one's thought processes or conclusions aloud to another person, usually more for the sake of speaking aloud than for any help the person may provide." Or, as Watson himself put it, in "The Adventure of the Creeping Man":
. . . I had uses. I was a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him. He liked to think aloud in my presence. His remarks could hardly be said to be made to me–-many of them would have been as appropriately addressed to his bedstead–-but none the less, having formed the habit, it had become in some way helpful that I should register and interject.
Watson does not just refer to _the_ Dr. John H. Watson, but has become a general term for a detective's sidekick or confidant. "Nero Wolfe and his Watson, Archie Goodwin." See also watsonize, ewig-Watsonische.
Comments by the_grene_kni3t
the_grene_kni3t commented on the list underused-words
I think that perhaps you have misspelled abhor.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word senryu
Five-seven-five but
not about nature; in fact,
often satiric.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word moustache
I much prefer "moustache" with the stress on the second syllable.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word peach
"Peach" is a good word as a fruit, but I like it far better as a verb meaning "to squeal."
"Ikey has peached, and the game is up."
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone"
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word ナン�?プレート
"Nambapureeto"--"number plate". Japanese for "license plate". What fun!
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word boudoir
Fun fact: "Boudoir" comes from the Old French verb "bouder" meaning "to sulk". A boudoir is a lady's private sulking-room.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word watsonize
How odd! I can't find a citation for this one, but I'm sure I didn't make it up. Anyway, it means "to review one's thought processes or conclusions aloud to another person, usually more for the sake of speaking aloud than for any help the person may provide." Or, as Watson himself put it, in "The Adventure of the Creeping Man":
. . . I had uses. I was a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him. He liked to think aloud in my presence. His remarks could hardly be said to be made to me–-many of them would have been as appropriately addressed to his bedstead–-but none the less, having formed the habit, it had become in some way helpful that I should register and interject.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word watson
Watson does not just refer to _the_ Dr. John H. Watson, but has become a general term for a detective's sidekick or confidant. "Nero Wolfe and his Watson, Archie Goodwin." See also watsonize, ewig-Watsonische.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word that is
A phrase of hesitation, also useful for getting back on track with the difficult sentence.
"I, well, that is, um--"
"I didn't break it, er, that is, I didn't exactly break it."
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word ducky
As a word for a duck, this is unacceptable. However, as a familiar and affectionate form of address to total strangers, it has a certain charm.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word topgallantsail
Pronounced, of course, as t'ga'n's'l, with a short a.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word rather
Rather: the only way I know to say "a lot" and make it sound like "sort of".
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word schwa
I like to use this as a verb meaning, "to pronounce as or with a schwa". The use does not appear to be legitimate . . . yet.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word gunslinger
This is also a kind of hat.
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word sherlock holmesing
When your character's name becomes a verb, you've really made it. Way to go Doyle!
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word fusilar
Spanish for "to execute with firearms".
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word run through
"Ask my pardon, or I shall run you through!"
Patrick O'Brian
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word transatlantique
French for "deck chair".
December 29, 2006
the_grene_kni3t commented on the word acuarela
Spanish for "watercolor."
December 22, 2006