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Jan Szkudliński
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 1:02 pm
Post subject: acid-washed genes |
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Hello everybody,
While translating to Polish a certain text I've come across a phrase
"acid-washed genes". It is a motto for a short article on one of the
pioneers of aeronautics. I believe that the phrase must have some
idiomatic meaning I'm not aware of. Can anyone please help me?
I've looked it up through google.com and I've found out that it is being
used by some music fans, yet mostly it is another way of describing
bleached jeans trousers.
Thanks in advance for any answers,
Regards
Jan Szkudlinski
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Mike Lyle
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 5:48 pm
Post subject: Re: acid-washed genes |
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Jan Szkudliński wrote:
| Quote: | Hello everybody,
While translating to Polish a certain text I've come across a
phrase
"acid-washed genes". It is a motto for a short article on one of
the
pioneers of aeronautics. I believe that the phrase must have some
idiomatic meaning I'm not aware of. Can anyone please help me?
I've looked it up through google.com and I've found out that it is
being used by some music fans, yet mostly it is another way of
describing bleached jeans trousers.
|
It sounds as though it's either a spelling mistake or a joke: could
you give us the whole sentence, please?
--
Mike. |
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Jan Szkudliński
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:06 pm
Post subject: Re: acid-washed genes |
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Mike Lyle wrote:
| Quote: | It sounds as though it's either a spelling mistake or a joke: could
you give us the whole sentence, please?
|
The problem is, that there is no sentence. It is only a phrase between
the main title and the text, a kind of a motto.
Nevertheless, I believe I have solved the mystery. Having checked the
technical data of the aircraft described in the article I've found out
that it was powered by an acid gas engine
"acid gas engine" sounds like "acid-washed genes"
The latter phrase can be found through search engines in some blogs and
on some discussion forums. It is also a chapter title of a comic book
about movie characters known as "Jay and Silent Bob". I've heard they
can be amusing, though I haven's really seen any of the movies with them.
Regards
Jan Szkudliński
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Pat Durkin
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 7:17 pm
Post subject: Re: acid-washed genes |
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"Mike Lyle" <mike_lyle_uk@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3n354pF195i30U1@individual.net...
| Quote: | Jan Szkudliński wrote:
Hello everybody,
While translating to Polish a certain text I've come across a
phrase
"acid-washed genes". It is a motto for a short article on one of
the
pioneers of aeronautics. I believe that the phrase must have some
idiomatic meaning I'm not aware of. Can anyone please help me?
I've looked it up through google.com and I've found out that it is
being used by some music fans, yet mostly it is another way of
describing bleached jeans trousers.
It sounds as though it's either a spelling mistake or a joke: could
you give us the whole sentence, please?
|
Yes. It sounds like a pun on "acid-washed jeans", or those pre-faded levis.
More context is needed to determine if a very particular inheritance factor
(for music or for aeronautics) is passed on. |
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Brian Wickham
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:58 pm
Post subject: Re: acid-washed genes |
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On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 12:48:11 +0100, "Mike Lyle"
<mike_lyle_uk@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
| Quote: | Jan Szkudliński wrote:
Hello everybody,
While translating to Polish a certain text I've come across a
phrase
"acid-washed genes". It is a motto for a short article on one of
the
pioneers of aeronautics. I believe that the phrase must have some
idiomatic meaning I'm not aware of. Can anyone please help me?
I've looked it up through google.com and I've found out that it is
being used by some music fans, yet mostly it is another way of
describing bleached jeans trousers.
|
it's a typical journalese pun so I suspect it would not translate well
into Polish. It hinges on the pronunciation of "genes" and "jeans"
being the same.
The original phrase is "acid-washed jeans", which are a type of
pre-faded jeans. They are not the same as stone-washed jeans which
appear to be naturally faded and have a soft nap. Acid-washing gives
a mottled effect that looks somewhat metallic but is hard to describe.
Here in New York they were popular for about 15 minutes in the 1980's,
then everyone realized they looked rather garish.
Brian Wickham |
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CDB
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:51 pm
Post subject: Re: acid-washed genes |
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"Brian Wickham" <bwickham@NO~SPAM.nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:tl1pg11dmamo0arl14631l6amjglcne51p@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 12:48:11 +0100, "Mike Lyle"
mike_lyle_uk@REMOVETHISyahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Jan Szkudliński wrote:
Hello everybody,
While translating to Polish a certain text I've come across a
phrase
"acid-washed genes". It is a motto for a short article on one of
the
pioneers of aeronautics. I believe that the phrase must have some
idiomatic meaning I'm not aware of. Can anyone please help me?
I've looked it up through google.com and I've found out that it is
being used by some music fans, yet mostly it is another way of
describing bleached jeans trousers.
it's a typical journalese pun so I suspect it would not translate
well
into Polish. It hinges on the pronunciation of "genes" and "jeans"
being the same.
The original phrase is "acid-washed jeans", which are a type of
pre-faded jeans. They are not the same as stone-washed jeans which
appear to be naturally faded and have a soft nap. Acid-washing
gives
a mottled effect that looks somewhat metallic but is hard to
describe.
Here in New York they were popular for about 15 minutes in the
1980's,
then everyone realized they looked rather garish.
|
Yes. "Acid" is a colloquial name for the psychoactive drug LSD,
reputed at one time to cause genetic damage, and is also used for a
type of Rock music that it inspired (think Jefferson Airplane); so one
of those is likely to be the other wing of the pun. |
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meirman
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:01 am
Post subject: Re: acid-washed genes |
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In alt.english.usage on Wed, 24 Aug 2005 09:02:54 +0200 Jan
SzkudliƱski <rhetor@go2.pl> posted:
| Quote: | Hello everybody,
While translating to Polish a certain text I've come across a phrase
"acid-washed genes".
|
I used to be a girl until I had my genes acid-washed. One of the X's
lost a whole leg and became a Y. I'm not sure what happened to that
leg, but I would like to get it back. I still have lots of good
skirts and blouses I can't wear now.
| Quote: | It is a motto for a short article on one of the
pioneers of aeronautics. I believe that the phrase must have some
idiomatic meaning I'm not aware of. Can anyone please help me?
I've looked it up through google.com and I've found out that it is being
used by some music fans, yet mostly it is another way of describing
bleached jeans trousers.
|
Brian's right. Various people wore them for a while, and music fans
like to be stylish.
| Quote: |
Thanks in advance for any answers,
Regards
Jan Szkudlinski
|
s/ meirman
Posting from alt.english.usage
--
My English in this reply is colloquial, and may not always use full sentences.
For gosh sakes, when you ask a question, say what sort of English you are asking about.
When you give an answer, say in what part of the world you think your answer is valid.
If you are emailing me please
say if you are posting the same response.
Town NW of Pittsburgh Pa. 0 to 10 years | Brooklyn 12 years
Indianapolis 7 years | Now in
Chicago 6 years | Baltimore 22 years |
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