Comments on: On letting one's guard (and pants) down http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318 Sat, 18 May 2013 17:18:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: maidhc http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287979 maidhc Tue, 13 Nov 2012 05:10:45 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287979 I always assumed that "blew my nose" was referring to cocaine. I always assumed that "blew my nose" was referring to cocaine.

]]> By: Andy Averill http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287774 Andy Averill Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:45:27 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287774 @richardelguru, I've alway assumed the Stones were hinting at another kind of blowing, but there was a limit to how far even they could go in those days. Don't know what the name for that rhetorical figure would be. @richardelguru, I've alway assumed the Stones were hinting at another kind of blowing, but there was a limit to how far even they could go in those days. Don't know what the name for that rhetorical figure would be.

]]> By: Ross Presser http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287754 Ross Presser Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:11:41 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287754 It took me about two minutes to understand this LL post. My first impression smushed the two examples together: "What conservative Washington Post readers got, when they traded in Dave Weigel for [Jennifer] Rubin, was a lot more hackery and a lot less informed about the presidential election .... also, pants." As in, the readers got pants as well as hackery. Except that Jennifer Rubin, being female, may wear skirts instead of pants. So that was wrong anyway. Pity my poor confused mind ... It took me about two minutes to understand this LL post. My first impression smushed the two examples together:

"What conservative Washington Post readers got, when they traded in Dave Weigel for [Jennifer] Rubin, was a lot more hackery and a lot less informed about the presidential election …. also, pants."

As in, the readers got pants as well as hackery. Except that Jennifer Rubin, being female, may wear skirts instead of pants. So that was wrong anyway. Pity my poor confused mind …

]]> By: richardelguru http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287579 richardelguru Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:38:08 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287579 "She blew my nose and then she blew my mind" Anti-bathos? "She blew my nose and then she blew my mind"
Anti-bathos?

]]> By: Gary http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287364 Gary Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:21:38 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287364 I thought until I read the comments that the point of David Weigel's play on word was the double meaning of "let his guard down"----dropped his defense and disappointed his gang of defenders. I thought until I read the comments that the point of David Weigel's play on word was the double meaning of "let his guard down"—-dropped his defense and disappointed his gang of defenders.

]]> By: xana http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287025 xana Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:01:58 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287025 It comes from fencing. En garde! It comes from fencing. En garde!

]]> By: Nathan http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287018 Nathan Mon, 12 Nov 2012 02:48:33 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-287018 I would have thought the idiom came from boxing, but I can't quickly find online evidence. I would have thought the idiom came from boxing, but I can't quickly find online evidence.

]]> By: DonBoy http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-286880 DonBoy Sun, 11 Nov 2012 19:43:27 +0000 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=4318#comment-286880 I don't percieve Weigel's tweet as having the same WTF as the other examples. Both "pants" and "guard" are direct objects and are the kind of things than can be let down, although one is metaphorical here. (If one's guard is taken to be a literal shield, it's something that can be physically lowered, although I'm not sure that's the factual etymology.) I don't percieve Weigel's tweet as having the same WTF as the other examples. Both "pants" and "guard" are direct objects and are the kind of things than can be let down, although one is metaphorical here. (If one's guard is taken to be a literal shield, it's something that can be physically lowered, although I'm not sure that's the factual etymology.)

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