So, "hung by the neck" means there's a big dick in ya throat?:D

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

From French coup de foudre = stroke of thunder/lightning

Reminds me of the opening verses of the Canterbury Tales (see lines 16 & 21 below)

I used to know the opening 20 lines or so of the Prologue by heart. Love the way it sounds when spoken aloud.

When you read english from that period, it is so like german. I love it. That's what got me interested in the german language, in fact.

Re hung/ hanged. I've noticed that "hung" is more prevalent, probably even correct, in American-English.
It's therefore becoming more common here - probably because we don't hang people any more, so there is less reason to use the term.

I always use the correct (traditional) hanged, and have been picked up on it before. People think it sounds wrong, like referring to a group as a singular entity ("The party was shown round the castle.")

I'm by no means a grammarian, and I do speak and write in the vernacular. It's just interesting how language bends and flexes over time. One generation's slang is another generation's standard.

I think 'hung drawn and quartered' probably plays a part in that too.

the hung/hanged thing is one of those thuings I sort of know, but then forget about until reminded again.

Hung sounds naturally right to those of us who are.













So they tell me. :o

WTF? Is that clishmaclaver or dishmadaver?

Just like it says, gossip; idle or foolish talk.

Some of these words would be useful if anyone knew what you're talking about, but having to explain the word every time you use it is hardly a shortcut.

Hebe got me Mrs. Byrne's Dictionary of unusual, obscure and preposterous words. IT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!

Quidnunc is one of our favorites so far. A gossip/nosy parker.

And I get to feel all special 'cause I already know some of them :D

I stopped getting Word of the Day, some time ago. Why do you get it, and I don't? I demand an investigation.