Why indefinite articles?

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CalifJim  #257287  Sat, 19 Aug 06 06:28 AM
What did the parrot say?

Smile [:)]

  
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Clive  #257294  Sat, 19 Aug 06 06:49 AM

Hi CJ,

A perfect illustration of how some of us take the high road!

Clive

  
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CalifJim  #257297  Sat, 19 Aug 06 06:54 AM
Was that a crack?

CJ

  
Clive  #257303  Sat, 19 Aug 06 07:09 AM

Perish the thought. But, if the shoe fits . . .

Clive 

  
Maple  #257306  Sat, 19 Aug 06 07:36 AM

Who can tell in which language the gurus were chatting: English or Martian?

  
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Grammar Geek  #257316  Sat, 19 Aug 06 08:14 AM
Neither, Maple. It was "Idiom."
  
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Barbara, who answers in American English.
Maple  #257319  Sat, 19 Aug 06 08:44 AM

Oh, Barb, that's a perfect illustration of how informative you are!

Even the uber-cool dict. wouldn't recognize them as "idioms"! Big Smile [:D]

  
Grammar Geek  #257458  Sat, 19 Aug 06 08:48 PM

Maple, do you need translations?

"is that a crack" -  a crack is a joking comment that's aimed at someone. For example, I tend to spill whatever I eat on me. So if you say at at restaurant "what will you be wearing... I mean ordering... tonight?" you've made a crack at me.

"if the shoe fits, wear it" is a common expression that means "if what has just been described applies to you, then recognize it as such." For example, someone says something about proofreading before posting so you don't post with a lot of misspelled words, and I say "are you talking about me?" - maybe the person intended it to be about someone else, but it DOES describe me... so the response to that could be "if the shoe fits..."

"take the high road" means not getting involved in a petty dispute. You go out to lunch with a friend, and usually you take turns paying. You're sure you paid last time, but this time he says that he did, and it's your turn to pay again. If you just smile and say "My pleasure," you have taken the high road by not turning it into an argument.

Was there anything else in there that needs explaining?

  
Maple  #257498  Sun, 20 Aug 06 12:56 AM

Oh, My! What I guessed are all wrong!

Barbara:

spill whatever I eat on me. So if you say at at restaurant "what will you be wearing... I mean ordering... tonight?"

I wear tomato-egg soup this morning.Big Smile [:D]

Your translations are absorbing and helpful!Beer [B]

Thank you very much!

Smile [:)]Star [star]

PS:

Perish the thought = absolutely not!  or sth else ?

Is "a perfect illustration" often used as an irony in daily talk? If so, I'm sorry at what I said in post 257319Embarrassed [:$]

This script occured to me just now:            

                                   LT. DAN
                         They gave you an imbecile, a moron
                         who goes on television and makes a
                         fool out himself in front of the
                         whole damn country, the Congressional
                         Medal of Honor.

                                     FORREST
                         Yes, sir.

                                     LT. DAN
                         Well, then, that's just perfect!Big Smile [:D]

  
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