Hello Jean!

On Sunday, January 25, 2004, 8:57 AM, you wrote:

R>>> Looks as though some long evenings are coming up as I've just got to
R>>> give it a go! I don't know whether to thank you or not for leading me
R>>> down that path! ;-)

M>> Have a nice weekend ;-)

JS> On Sunday i am trying to improve my english.
JS> I need help.

Since Miguel hasn't answered yet, nor so far anyone else that I see on
my tbudl folder, I'll give it a try. I live in the U.S., born in
Texas, now residing in Tennessee. I've been with TB! for going on two
years now. One of the most wonderful things to me about the mailing
lists are the messages coming from people whose native language is not
my own. I've been learning so very much from all of you.

So, I want to try to help on this.

JS> I am not sure to understand exactly some sentences:

JS> I kinda like my Bat.. The thread's title

It's a sort of humor. "Kinda" means "sort of" or "somewhat." It's an
understatement. What's really meant is "I like my e-mail client, *The
Bat!* very, very, very much, in spite of its few things that need
fixing."

JS> I don't suppose you'd consider knocking up a little 'how to' document
JS> would you?

Roughly translated, this means: I don't suppose you would want to
write a message that explains how to do this, would you?

JS> Nah! Chickened out

"Chickened out" is a slang expression, used in a derisive tone of
voice. It means that the recipient who is accused of "chickening out"
has become scared of doing a particular thing, or has seen the
particular thing as too difficult, and so has changed his mind. He
will now not do what he had said he was going to do.

So, he's basically being called a coward. To be "chicken" is to be
"cowardly."

And, since he said this of himself, he's just indulging in a bit of
humor, perhaps to forestall being teased about deciding not to give up
a whole weekend to learning this new thing.

JS> I'll stick with hovering over CTRL+SHT+DEL thanks

This is a metaphor: his hands are hovering over--meaning, in a
position just above--these keys on the keyboard. It means he'll go on
using them rather than go through the long process of learning a new
(although possibly better) way.

JS> Oh heck, I've just got sucked into the wonders of WindowBlinds

"Oh heck" is a mild euphemism for "Oh hell."

To get "sucked into" something means to have been fooled or lured into
it, against one's better judgment.

"The wonders of WindowBlinds" is a partly ironic expression. He's
fascinated, but it's going to take up so much of his time to learn to
use this program that he's rueful, also.

JS> And

JS> in "I do, but YMMV" What stands YMMV for

YMMV stands for "your mileage may vary." Again, this is a figure of
speech, taken from the automobile industry. It means, in this context,
that "you may not have the same experience which I've had with this."

JS> Thanks for help

My pleasure, if it is truly a help!  I'm retired from teaching
elementary school--the last 10 years of my service was with 10-,11-, and
12-year-old youngsters in the sixth grade.

I hope--given this background--that I haven't "talked down" to you.

My undergraduate degree is in English Literature. I love to the point
of passion dealing with words and their backgrounds and meanings. :)

Also, I know this is Off-Topic. Apologies in advance of the inevitable
moderator's reminder. Shall we take this to tbot without being told
to, Jean?

-- 
Best regards,
Mary

The Bat! 2.00.6 on Windows XP 5.1 2600 Service Pack 1




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