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Message |
Rifleman
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:02 am
Post subject: Please make it easier |
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Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and would
appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to stop a
really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with slugs to do it.
He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about which caliber handguns
to carry, they were told it didn't really matter, but that they should file
the front sight off nice and smooth - that way it wouldn't hurt so much when
the bear took it away from them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine
....
Rifleman
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Raymond S. Wise
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:38 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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Rifleman wrote:
| Quote: | Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and
would appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in
advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to
stop a really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with
slugs to do it. He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about
which caliber handguns to carry, they were told it didn't really
matter, but that they should file the front sight off nice and smooth
- that way it wouldn't hurt so much when the bear took it away from
them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine ...
|
When traveling in the tundra, one should carry a heavy rifle or shotgun for
protection from bear attack. A handgun will not offer sufficient protection:
It won't stop the bear.
The grammar of "where the sun didn't shine" is not correct. It's a fixed
expression, which should be either "where the sun doesn't shine," or, using
nonstandard grammar (a very common, jocular form of this expression) "where
the sun don't shine." It is a euphemistic metaphor for the rectum.
If you have any specific questions about the passage, feel free to ask.
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com |
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:58 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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In alt.english.usage on Wed, 15 Sep 2004 04:02:34 +0900 "Rifleman"
<tellmewhatever@hotmail.com> posted:
| Quote: | Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and would
appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to stop a
really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with slugs to do it.
He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about which caliber handguns
to carry, they were told it didn't really matter, but that they should file
the front sight off nice and smooth - that way it wouldn't hurt so much when
the bear took it away from them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine
...
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This is not right. "Shove" in the last line should be "shoved",
because it is parallel with "took" (past tense) and also "shove" is
never used with bear or any third person singular subject.
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis, 7 years
Chicago, 6 years
Brooklyn NY 12 years
Baltimore 20 years
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Raymond S. Wise
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 7:27 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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meirman wrote:
| Quote: | In alt.english.usage on Wed, 15 Sep 2004 04:02:34 +0900 "Rifleman"
tellmewhatever@hotmail.com> posted:
Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and
would appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in
advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to
stop a really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with
slugs to do it. He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about
which caliber handguns to carry, they were told it didn't really
matter, but that they should file the front sight off nice and
smooth - that way it wouldn't hurt so much when the bear took it
away from them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine ...
This is not right. "Shove" in the last line should be "shoved",
because it is parallel with "took" (past tense) and also "shove" is
never used with bear or any third person singular subject.
|
Good point. I missed that error.
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com |
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Alan OBrien
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 11:54 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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"Raymond S. Wise" <mplsrayNOSPAM@gbronline.com> wrote in message
news:34adnbjc2vKvHNrcRVn-oQ@gbronline.com...
| Quote: | Rifleman wrote:
It is a euphemistic metaphor for the rectum.
If you have any specific questions about the passage, feel free to ask.
|
Was that a joke, or not? |
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Raymond S. Wise
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:09 pm
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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Alan OBrien wrote:
| Quote: | "Raymond S. Wise" <mplsrayNOSPAM@gbronline.com> wrote in message
news:34adnbjc2vKvHNrcRVn-oQ@gbronline.com...
Rifleman wrote:
It is a euphemistic metaphor for the rectum.
If you have any specific questions about the passage, feel free to
ask.
Was that a joke, or not?
|
No, just a funny coincidence. Make that "a *very* funny coincidence."
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com |
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Rifleman
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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"Raymond S. Wise" <mplsrayNOSPAM@gbronline.com> wrote in message
news:34adnbjc2vKvHNrcRVn-oQ@gbronline.com...
| Quote: | Rifleman wrote:
Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and
would appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in
advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to
stop a really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with
slugs to do it. He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about
which caliber handguns to carry, they were told it didn't really
matter, but that they should file the front sight off nice and smooth
- that way it wouldn't hurt so much when the bear took it away from
them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine ...
When traveling in the tundra, one should carry a heavy rifle or shotgun
for
protection from bear attack. A handgun will not offer sufficient
protection:
It won't stop the bear.
|
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did above.
Thanks.
| Quote: |
The grammar of "where the sun didn't shine" is not correct. It's a fixed
expression, which should be either "where the sun doesn't shine," or,
using
nonstandard grammar (a very common, jocular form of this expression)
"where
the sun don't shine." It is a euphemistic metaphor for the rectum.
If you have any specific questions about the passage, feel free to ask.
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com
|
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:29 pm
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 21:15:17 +0900, "Rifleman"
<tellmewhatever@hotmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
"Raymond S. Wise" <mplsrayNOSPAM@gbronline.com> wrote in message
news:34adnbjc2vKvHNrcRVn-oQ@gbronline.com...
Rifleman wrote:
Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and
would appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in
advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to
stop a really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with
slugs to do it. He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about
which caliber handguns to carry, they were told it didn't really
matter, but that they should file the front sight off nice and smooth
- that way it wouldn't hurt so much when the bear took it away from
them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine ...
When traveling in the tundra, one should carry a heavy rifle or shotgun
for
protection from bear attack. A handgun will not offer sufficient
protection:
It won't stop the bear.
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did above.
Thanks.
|
The writer is making an attempt at humor by saying the bear will take
away your rifle and stick it up your ass. The "humor" is that the
rifle will cause less pain when it is inserted if the sight (a small
protruberance on the end of the rifle) is filed off. It's not really
all that successful attempt at humor. |
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Raymond S. Wise
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:13 pm
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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"Tony Cooper" <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ca1jk0l492mssp97e9oqp66vi4b418ane5@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 21:15:17 +0900, "Rifleman"
tellmewhatever@hotmail.com> wrote:
"Raymond S. Wise" <mplsrayNOSPAM@gbronline.com> wrote in message
news:34adnbjc2vKvHNrcRVn-oQ@gbronline.com...
Rifleman wrote:
Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and
would appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in
advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to
stop a really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with
slugs to do it. He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about
which caliber handguns to carry, they were told it didn't really
matter, but that they should file the front sight off nice and smooth
- that way it wouldn't hurt so much when the bear took it away from
them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine ...
When traveling in the tundra, one should carry a heavy rifle or shotgun
for
protection from bear attack. A handgun will not offer sufficient
protection:
It won't stop the bear.
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is
the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did
above.
Thanks.
The writer is making an attempt at humor by saying the bear will take
away your rifle and stick it up your ass. The "humor" is that the
rifle will cause less pain when it is inserted if the sight (a small
protruberance on the end of the rifle) is filed off. It's not really
all that successful attempt at humor.
|
It's memorable, though, and that might help achieve the speaker's purpose,
which is to persuade the newbie to carry a heavy rifle or shotgun instead of
a handgun.
--
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . com |
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Rifleman
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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"Tony Cooper" <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ca1jk0l492mssp97e9oqp66vi4b418ane5@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 21:15:17 +0900, "Rifleman"
tellmewhatever@hotmail.com> wrote:
"Raymond S. Wise" <mplsrayNOSPAM@gbronline.com> wrote in message
news:34adnbjc2vKvHNrcRVn-oQ@gbronline.com...
Rifleman wrote:
Hello guys,
I'm struggling but I can't comprehend the following paragraph and
would appreciate it if you guys can make it easier for me. Thanks in
advance.
An Alaskan hunter he'd known had once told him that if you had to
stop a really big bear, you needed a heavy rifle or a shotgun with
slugs to do it. He said that when newbies to the tundra asked about
which caliber handguns to carry, they were told it didn't really
matter, but that they should file the front sight off nice and smooth
- that way it wouldn't hurt so much when the bear took it away from
them and shove it up where the sun didn't shine ...
When traveling in the tundra, one should carry a heavy rifle or shotgun
for
protection from bear attack. A handgun will not offer sufficient
protection:
It won't stop the bear.
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is
the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did
above.
Thanks.
The writer is making an attempt at humor by saying the bear will take
away your rifle and stick it up your ass. The "humor" is that the
rifle will cause less pain when it is inserted if the sight (a small
protruberance on the end of the rifle) is filed off. It's not really
all that successful attempt at humor.
Hahaha... it had taken quite long until I laughed. Maybe, however, that's |
not because it's not worth a humor but because I couldn't understand
immediately. It's not so much humorous, though.
Thanks a lot,
Rifleman |
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Martin Ambuhl
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 2:29 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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Rifleman wrote:
| Quote: | Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did above.
Thanks.
|
Raymond explained it more than well enough. Anyone who still needs help
after that won't understand any further explanation either. |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:08 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:29:28 -0400, Martin Ambuhl
<mambuhl@earthlink.net> wrote:
| Quote: | Rifleman wrote:
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did above.
Thanks.
Raymond explained it more than well enough. Anyone who still needs help
after that won't understand any further explanation either.
|
I'm assuming Rifleman is not a native speaker of English. Why would
you think that a non-native speaker would cop on to "where the sun
don't shine"? Is it really that much of an inconvenience to say "It's
an idiomatic way of saying 'stick it up your ass'"? |
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Rifleman
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:09 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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"Martin Ambuhl" <mambuhl@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:2qubdfF12cc2qU1@uni-berlin.de...
| Quote: | Rifleman wrote:
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is
the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did
above.
Thanks.
Raymond explained it more than well enough. Anyone who still needs help
after that won't understand any further explanation either.
|
Raymond didn't explain the last three lines. He didn't even explain what the
phrase of where the sun didn't shine stands for. I'm not much interested in
grammer. |
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Rifleman
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:37 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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"Tony Cooper" <tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:o00kk0tednkcpvg1elp841uq6om3goc0ka@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 16:29:28 -0400, Martin Ambuhl
mambuhl@earthlink.net> wrote:
Rifleman wrote:
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is
the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did
above.
Thanks.
Raymond explained it more than well enough. Anyone who still needs help
after that won't understand any further explanation either.
I'm assuming Rifleman is not a native speaker of English. Why would
you think that a non-native speaker would cop on to "where the sun
don't shine"? Is it really that much of an inconvenience to say "It's
an idiomatic way of saying 'stick it up your ass'"?
|
Surely there' s no better clue than 'stick it up your ass' in my
understanding. I wouldn't have been able to get even a hunch without knowing
it. By the way, you won't ask this silly question if you are native. Thanks.
Rifleman |
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Martin Ambuhl
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 4:42 am
Post subject: Re: Please make it easier |
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Rifleman wrote:
| Quote: | "Martin Ambuhl" <mambuhl@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:2qubdfF12cc2qU1@uni-berlin.de...
Rifleman wrote:
Thanks a lot but I could understand upto there and the part puzzling is
the
last three lines and I'd thank you very much if you can like you did
above.
Thanks.
Raymond explained it more than well enough. Anyone who still needs help
after that won't understand any further explanation either.
Raymond didn't explain the last three lines. He didn't even explain what the
phrase of where the sun didn't shine stands for. I'm not much interested in
grammer.
|
Actually, he did. Go back and read his reply again. |
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