Hello Mary, Sunday, January 25, 2004, 5:32:32 PM, you wrote:
MRB> Hello Jean! MRB> 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. MRB> Since Miguel hasn't answered yet, nor so far anyone else that I see on MRB> my tbudl folder, I'll give it a try. I live in the U.S., born in MRB> Texas, now residing in Tennessee. I've been with TB! for going on two MRB> years now. One of the most wonderful things to me about the mailing MRB> lists are the messages coming from people whose native language is not MRB> my own. I've been learning so very much from all of you. MRB> 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 MRB> It's a sort of humor. "Kinda" means "sort of" or "somewhat." It's an MRB> understatement. What's really meant is "I like my e-mail client, *The MRB> Bat!* very, very, very much, in spite of its few things that need MRB> fixing." JS>> I don't suppose you'd consider knocking up a little 'how to' document JS>> would you? MRB> Roughly translated, this means: I don't suppose you would want to MRB> write a message that explains how to do this, would you? JS>> Nah! Chickened out MRB> "Chickened out" is a slang expression, used in a derisive tone of MRB> voice. It means that the recipient who is accused of "chickening out" MRB> has become scared of doing a particular thing, or has seen the MRB> particular thing as too difficult, and so has changed his mind. He MRB> will now not do what he had said he was going to do. MRB> So, he's basically being called a coward. To be "chicken" is to be MRB> "cowardly." MRB> And, since he said this of himself, he's just indulging in a bit of MRB> humor, perhaps to forestall being teased about deciding not to give up MRB> a whole weekend to learning this new thing. JS>> I'll stick with hovering over CTRL+SHT+DEL thanks MRB> This is a metaphor: his hands are hovering over--meaning, in a MRB> position just above--these keys on the keyboard. It means he'll go on MRB> using them rather than go through the long process of learning a new MRB> (although possibly better) way. JS>> Oh heck, I've just got sucked into the wonders of WindowBlinds MRB> "Oh heck" is a mild euphemism for "Oh hell." MRB> To get "sucked into" something means to have been fooled or lured into MRB> it, against one's better judgment. MRB> "The wonders of WindowBlinds" is a partly ironic expression. He's MRB> fascinated, but it's going to take up so much of his time to learn to MRB> use this program that he's rueful, also. JS>> And JS>> in "I do, but YMMV" What stands YMMV for MRB> YMMV stands for "your mileage may vary." Again, this is a figure of MRB> speech, taken from the automobile industry. It means, in this context, MRB> that "you may not have the same experience which I've had with this." JS>> Thanks for help MRB> My pleasure, if it is truly a help! I'm retired from teaching MRB> elementary school--the last 10 years of my service was with 10-,11-, and MRB> 12-year-old youngsters in the sixth grade. MRB> I hope--given this background--that I haven't "talked down" to you. MRB> My undergraduate degree is in English Literature. I love to the point MRB> of passion dealing with words and their backgrounds and meanings. :) MRB> Also, I know this is Off-Topic. Apologies in advance of the inevitable MRB> moderator's reminder. Shall we take this to tbot without being told MRB> to, Jean? This helps. Thanks Mary. 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? Are you suggesting that this question is better for tbot than for tbuld? -- Best regards, Jean mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________ Current version is 2.02.3 CE | "Using TBUDL" information: http://www.silverstones.com/thebat/TBUDLInfo.html
