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fire a flare
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Yilaner
Nov 14, 2012, 9:16:08 PM11/14/12
to
On the first day of the Congress, his predecessor
Hu Jintao fired a flare about the threat of corruption
and its power to potentially bring down China's
Communist regime.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What does "fire a flare" mean here? To shed light on?
Hu Jintao fired a flare about the threat of corruption
and its power to potentially bring down China's
Communist regime.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
What does "fire a flare" mean here? To shed light on?
Mark Brader
Nov 14, 2012, 11:17:19 PM11/14/12
to
"Yilaner":
Hmm. There are several kinds of flares. One kind is set in the
ground and burns brightly where it is. It is used to warn people
of a hazard they should avoid, like this:
http://www.chinese-fireworks.com/hand-flare/photo/Road-Flares%2003.jpg
Another kind involves flaming balls launched in the air. They may
descend freely or have a parachute attached, like this one:
http://www.roho.co.uk/watersports/parachuteredrocketflare.jpg
These are used by people in distress to attract rescuers toward them,
or are used to provide light.
"Firing" a flare seems more appropriate for the second kind to me.
However, I think the writer was thinking of the first kind, and
primarily meant that Hu issued a warning. But because a flare
also gives light, he may have meant that Hu issued a warning *and*
shed light on the subject.
ObHumor:
[1] http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/90q1/raft.html
[2] http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/90q2/flare.html
--
Mark Brader "It is considered a sign of great {winnitude}
Toronto when your Obs are more interesting than other
m...@vex.net people's whole postings." --Eric Raymond
My text in this article is in the public domain.
ground and burns brightly where it is. It is used to warn people
of a hazard they should avoid, like this:
http://www.chinese-fireworks.com/hand-flare/photo/Road-Flares%2003.jpg
Another kind involves flaming balls launched in the air. They may
descend freely or have a parachute attached, like this one:
http://www.roho.co.uk/watersports/parachuteredrocketflare.jpg
These are used by people in distress to attract rescuers toward them,
or are used to provide light.
"Firing" a flare seems more appropriate for the second kind to me.
However, I think the writer was thinking of the first kind, and
primarily meant that Hu issued a warning. But because a flare
also gives light, he may have meant that Hu issued a warning *and*
shed light on the subject.
ObHumor:
[1] http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/90q1/raft.html
[2] http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jokes/90q2/flare.html
--
Mark Brader "It is considered a sign of great {winnitude}
Toronto when your Obs are more interesting than other
m...@vex.net people's whole postings." --Eric Raymond
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Horace LaBadie
Nov 15, 2012, 1:45:00 AM11/15/12
to
In article
<e833f46d-41a4-44ce...@uc4g2000pbc.googlegroups.com>,
Gave a warning. Signaled that there was danger ahead from the issue of
corruption.
<e833f46d-41a4-44ce...@uc4g2000pbc.googlegroups.com>,
corruption.
Cheryl
Nov 15, 2012, 7:07:50 AM11/15/12
to
signal for help, but because they usually stay alight for short periods
of time they aren't usually used to mean 'shed light on'.
--
Cheryl
Snidely
Nov 16, 2012, 1:52:08 AM11/16/12
to
Cheryl scribbled something on Thursday the 11/15/2012:
> Flares are also used to
> signal for help, but because they usually stay alight for short periods of
> time they aren't usually used to mean 'shed light on'.
(Note that the military has often lit battlefields by dropping flares
from aircraft, said flares having parachutes and a significant burn
time. Apologies to anyone else who has posted this thought
elsethread.)
/dps
--
Who, me? And what lacuna?
> On 2012-11-14 10:46 PM, Yilaner wrote:
>> On the first day of the Congress, his predecessor
>> Hu Jintao fired a flare about the threat of corruption
>> and its power to potentially bring down China's
>> Communist regime.
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> What does "fire a flare" mean here? To shed light on?
>>
>
> It could mean that he sent up a warning signal.
I would agree.
>> On the first day of the Congress, his predecessor
>> Hu Jintao fired a flare about the threat of corruption
>> and its power to potentially bring down China's
>> Communist regime.
>> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> What does "fire a flare" mean here? To shed light on?
>>
>
> It could mean that he sent up a warning signal.
> Flares are also used to
> signal for help, but because they usually stay alight for short periods of
> time they aren't usually used to mean 'shed light on'.
from aircraft, said flares having parachutes and a significant burn
time. Apologies to anyone else who has posted this thought
elsethread.)
/dps
--
Who, me? And what lacuna?
Mike L
Nov 16, 2012, 4:03:20 PM11/16/12
to
On Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:52:08 -0800, Snidely <snide...@gmail.com>
wrote:
You can plunk para flares out of mortars, too, and blow your nose next
morning on what comes to earth. (And, absolutely OT but an interesting
image, WW2 searchlight batteries sometimes produced "artificial
moonlight" by, I believe, bouncing beams off clouds.)
--
Mike.
wrote:
morning on what comes to earth. (And, absolutely OT but an interesting
image, WW2 searchlight batteries sometimes produced "artificial
moonlight" by, I believe, bouncing beams off clouds.)
--
Mike.
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