Search found 17 matches
- Sat Sep 07, 2019 7:06 am
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cackalacky and derivatives
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4401
Re: Cackalacky and derivatives
Thank you, Phil. It's very true that American English has drawn heavily on German words. I would gladly research this myself, but I don't either know or probably din't have access to some of the detailed resources various people on this site often use to answer questions. I was just hoping somebody ...
- Wed Sep 04, 2019 4:37 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cackalacky and derivatives
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4401
Re: Cackalacky and derivatives
So, no one. Wow.
- Wed Aug 21, 2019 11:00 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cackalacky and derivatives
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4401
Re: Cackalacky and derivatives
Is anyone else willing or able to weigh in on this inquiry? Erik or Ken?
Thx!
Thx!
- Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:45 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cackalacky and derivatives
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4401
Re: Cackalacky and derivatives
Thanks, Trolley, for the response. I'm virtually certain this relates to slavery. Lackey is a pejorative phrase for a manservant. That's what slaves used to be called: "You my lackey." Calling someone a lackey in the South is still an insult (I'm a Southerner many generations over - 1700s). Lackey/l...
- Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:43 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cackalacky and derivatives
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4401
Re: Cackalacky and derivatives
Oh. Forgot to add: some websites tried to tag it to some dubious permutation of a supposed Native American word. My intuition tells me that's an anticipatory straw man defense...
- Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:34 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Cackalacky and derivatives
- Replies: 8
- Views: 4401
Cackalacky and derivatives
Okay, you guys have diligently and thoughtfully answered every question I've ever posted, so here's a new one. This is American slang-based. Today on Twitter somebody did a promoted tweet for a business named Cackalacky. The hairs on the back of my neck went up! My understanding is this is a racist ...
- Sun Aug 11, 2019 8:22 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Small hinges swing big doors
- Replies: 17
- Views: 12363
Re: Small hinges swing big doors
Awesome work, Tony and Trolley! You knew how to find the facts behind my intuitive hunch. 👊 Sorry it's taking me a year to come back to this. I don't get notices, I guess, when replies are posted? I came back because I have a new one for you superslueths, but I'll post in a new thread. 😉 I always ha...
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:46 pm
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Small hinges swing big doors
- Replies: 17
- Views: 12363
Re: Small hinges swing big doors
Yes! Thanks, Erik. Both you and Ken have given me most excellent answers in the past. Muchas gracias!
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 4:57 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: entering the store
- Replies: 1
- Views: 2710
Re: entering the store
A only (and literally as written) means 2. If you want to try to attribute the meanings of 1 or 3 to it, you can only do so by assuming that the writer doesn't know correct grammar or is, at the east, a sloppy writer. You find this sort of sloppy drafting often times in legal contracts and in journa...
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 4:51 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: fruit for export
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2937
Re: fruit for export
In neither B nor C does the wording fairly imply that export is the exclusive disposition of the fruit. You'd have to add the limiting word only, exclusively, solely or some such.
- Tue Mar 27, 2018 4:39 am
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: Small hinges swing big doors
- Replies: 17
- Views: 12363
Re: Small hinges swing big doors
Thanks Bob n Erik! My point is that I think this quote is much older and, thus, is attributable to somebody other than W. Clement Stone - rather than trying to pin down which one of his writings contained it. Not doubting that the man made a ton of money, but it seems too profound for an insurance s...
- Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:33 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: made me happier
- Replies: 1
- Views: 2086
Re: made me happier
It means 1.
If you want to say something similar and have meaning 2, I would suggest:
What he said then (or - at that time) made me happier than at any other time (or - in our entire life together).
If you want to say something similar and have meaning 2, I would suggest:
What he said then (or - at that time) made me happier than at any other time (or - in our entire life together).
- Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:28 am
- Forum: Word Origins and Meanings
- Topic: pants on fire
- Replies: 10
- Views: 9233
Re: pants on fire
We stopped at, "Liar liar pants on fire!" No reference to telephone lines, telegraph wires or William Blake. And, I imagine it was an Americanism. If I were to guess the origin of "pants on fire" as associated with lying, it probably relates to the idea of burning and catching on fire in hell. Lying...
- Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:12 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: headed by/comma
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1509
Re: headed by/comma
An alti cases come of the more clear punctuation to the meaning you're seeking is the 2nd use with the,. However, both all 3 examples you gave are somewhat awkwardly worded. If you want the most clear wording for your intended meaning, and you're not worried about the comna use, then I would suggest...
- Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:06 am
- Forum: Usage and Writing
- Topic: too many friends
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1421
Re: too many friends
You could used 1 or 2 interchangeably. Agree with you that 3 has the altered meaning you suggest.Also think the same problem exists with 3A as with 3. There I would say, "Well, having many friends..."