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yarb commented on the word pear shaped
The phones here are going mad. We know that tonight and tomorrow it is going to get even worse. It has the potential to go pear shaped.
- Telephonist at Russian embassy in London, quoted in
May 1, 2008
dontcry commented on the word pear shaped
I have the potential to go pear shaped.
-Dontcry at home in front of The Mirror.
May 1, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word pear shaped
Yarb ... wow.
Do you suppose that phrase means something different in Russian than it does in English? *praying*
May 1, 2008
yarb commented on the word pear shaped
No! It's a very common phrase in the UK. Meaning to go tits up - to be in a shambolic state - a state of chronic disorganization.
What I especially liked about this quote was the distinction between something going pear shaped and merely having the potential to go pear shaped. Presumably everything has the potential - but the implication here seemed to be that the potential was greater than usual.
May 1, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word pear shaped
Oh. Well, thanks for explaining. *starts thinking Brits are weird*
;)
P.S. But what does it mean in Russian...? *wondering*
May 1, 2008
Prolagus commented on the word pear shaped
OK, but... which pear?
May 1, 2008
gangerh commented on the word pear shaped
Weird, c_b? It's not much different to bear shaped!
May 1, 2008
gangerh commented on the word pear shaped
Prolagus, _pear of course.
May 1, 2008
dontcry commented on the word pear shaped
I like pears better than pear shapes...
May 1, 2008
pterodactyl commented on the word pear shaped
Ohhh!
*lightbulb flashes on over head*
I had never heard the expression "going all pear-shaped" before. Now that I have, I understand what Terry Pratchett means when he writes about things "going all wahoonie-shaped".
Thank you, dear Wordies, for enlightening me!
May 1, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word pear shaped
All right, it's true, a bear-shaped bear, or even a pear-shaped bear, is not outside the realm of reason. But a chained_pear is just plain strange, as is a pained_chair.
May 1, 2008
reesetee commented on the word pear shaped
I've known some pained_chairs in my life. Hell, I've sat on some of them.
May 1, 2008
tankexmortis commented on the word pear shaped
Reminds me of one of my favorite jokes.
Q: What's green and pear shaped?
A: A pear.
July 31, 2008
bilby commented on the word pear shaped
I understand the expression pear shaped, because I watched The Bill far too much, but it's not generally used in Australia.
August 7, 2008
frindley commented on the word pear shaped
My knowledge and use of the phrase is all-Australian and I've never watched The Bill.
August 7, 2008
plethora commented on the word pear shaped
I've heard it a lot in Australia, but my original love for pear shaped comes from The Thin Blue Line.
August 7, 2008