I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms its environment?
-- Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years; Southern England for the past 22 years. (for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms its environment?
"Elephant in the living room" is in the ballpark.
-- --------------------------------------------- Richard Maurer To reply, remove half Sunnyvale, California of a homonym of a synonym for also. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: > I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially > co-exists well with other things in its environment, > but eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- > that it absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it > was foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as > resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the > nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the > environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally > overwhelms its environment?
> "Elephant in the living room" is in the ballpark.
Yes it is, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for: I think that implies that everyone in the room pretends it's not there -- it's the "great unspoken".
To be specific, I'm writing of the development of Heathrow airport. When first introduced (1946) it was relatively benign and not entirely unwelcomed, since it occupied a tightly-defined area of previously- undeveloped farmland and brought jobs to the area. Over the past 60 years, though, it's sequentially obliterated and/or blighted everything around it.
It's rather like an adult anorak whose disgusting habits and collection of something-or-other has made his parents' house entirely unliveable.
-- Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years; Southern England for the past 22 years. (for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
>> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially >> co-exists well with other things in its environment, >> but eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- >> that it absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
>> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it >> was foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as >> resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the >> nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the >> environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
>> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally >> overwhelms its environment?
>> "Elephant in the living room" is in the ballpark.
> Yes it is, but it's not exactly what I'm looking for: I think > that implies that everyone in the room pretends it's not there > -- it's the "great unspoken".
> To be specific, I'm writing of the development of Heathrow > airport. When first introduced (1946) it was relatively benign > and not entirely unwelcomed, since it occupied a tightly-defined > area of previously- undeveloped farmland and brought jobs to the > area. Over the past 60 years, though, it's sequentially > obliterated and/or blighted everything around it.
> It's rather like an adult anorak whose disgusting habits and > collection of something-or-other has made his parents' house > entirely unliveable.
Perhaps some form of "camel (or camel's nose) in the tent".
> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists > well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big > -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything > else around it.
> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted > on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also > don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean > something which invades the environment with the intention of > eventually taking over.
> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms its > environment?
I can't think of anything 'proverbial' offhand (although I have a sense that there should be one 'on the tip of my tongue'), but metaphors of the kind often allude to vegetative or fungal growth: "choking weeds", "creeping vines", "Jack's beanstalk", or the like. A shade-tree that spreads out, killing the lawn? Kudzu?
On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:17:22 GMT, Harvey Van Sickle
<harvey.n...@ntlworld.com> wrote: >I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists >well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big >-- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything >else around it.
>I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted >on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also >don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean >something which invades the environment with the intention of >eventually taking over.
>What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms its >environment?
In British English "A cuckoo in the nest" could be used.
Harvey Van Sickle wrote: > I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists > well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big > -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything > else around it.
> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted > on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also > don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean > something which invades the environment with the intention of > eventually taking over.
> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms > its environment?
> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: > > I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists > > well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big > > -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything > > else around it.
> > I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted > > on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also > > don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean > > something which invades the environment with the intention of > > eventually taking over.
> > What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms > > its environment?
> Cuckoo in the nest?
Tee hee. I managed a final check through my reply before I posted the answer he said he didn't want, or that would have made three.
>> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >> > I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists >> > well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big >> > -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything >> > else around it.
>> > I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted >> > on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also >> > don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean >> > something which invades the environment with the intention of >> > eventually taking over.
>> > What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms >> > its environment?
>> Cuckoo in the nest?
>Tee hee. I managed a final check through my reply before I posted >the answer he said he didn't want, or that would have made three.
>> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially >>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but >>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it >>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
>>> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was >>> foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as >>> resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the >>> nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the >>> environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
>>> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally >>> overwhelms its environment?
>> Cuckoo in the nest?
> Tee hee. I managed a final check through my reply before I posted > the answer he said he didn't want, or that would have made three.
I saw that, too!
In response to all three of you, I suppose "cuckooo in the nest" could be used, but it seems to stretch the concept for me: in my mind, it assumes malice aforethought on the part of the cuckoo (which isn't appropriate in the case I'm thinking of).
Like Odysseus mentioned in his response, I have this vague feeling that there's a proverbial example which is just eluding me -- but maybe I'm just imagining that, and there isn't one...
-- Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years; Southern England for the past 22 years. (for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
>Subject: What metaphor am I trying to think of? >From: Harvey Van Sickle >I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists >well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big >-- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything >else around it.
> >Subject: What metaphor am I trying to think of? > >From: Harvey Van Sickle
> >I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists > >well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big > >-- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything > >else around it.
> Grew like Topsy?
Cancer, if you feel negative enough about it. That's a part of an organism that grows out of control. Some kind of benign tumour? CDB
Harvey Van Sickle wrote: > On 27 Sep 2004, david56 wrote
>> John Dean typed thus:
>>> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >>>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially >>>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but >>>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it >>>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
>>>> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was >>>> foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as >>>> resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the >>>> nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the >>>> environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
>>>> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally >>>> overwhelms its environment?
>>> Cuckoo in the nest?
>> Tee hee. I managed a final check through my reply before I posted >> the answer he said he didn't want, or that would have made three.
> I saw that, too!
> In response to all three of you, I suppose "cuckooo in the nest" could > be used, but it seems to stretch the concept for me: in my mind, it > assumes malice aforethought on the part of the cuckoo (which isn't > appropriate in the case I'm thinking of).
> Like Odysseus mentioned in his response, I have this vague feeling > that there's a proverbial example which is just eluding me -- but > maybe I'm just imagining that, and there isn't one...
I don't hink there's any malice on the cuckoo's part - just a genetic imperative. But I must apologise for not reading your original post more carefully? Little Shop of Horrors? I had a thought to Google on "it just grew like a" and I got these phrases:
... it just grew like a garden from the seeds I had planted and nurtured and was harvested when the fruit was ripe and ...
... To me ListProc doesn't look like it was designed, it just grew like a weed.
... I did not really direct it, it just grew like a tree on its own."
... designed the site for a million page views a month. It just grew like a bat out of hell.
... It just grew like a psylicibe after a thunderstorm.
... You know, actor claims parents are aliens stuff -to government hiding secret documents on Elvis stuff - to - well you know, it just grew like a disease. ...
... everything. I even tried pouring water on it, but it just grew like a flower.)
... anyone. About this time last year, a began to be interested in Japanese culture, and from there it just grew like a wildfire. I ...
... light and dark.. on some places along the wall, there was no ivy.. but at certain points, it just grew like a thick afro.. i'm not . -- John Dean Oxford
> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >>>>> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally >>>>> overwhelms its environment?
-snip-
>> In response to all three of you, I suppose "cuckooo in the nest" >> could be used, but it seems to stretch the concept for me: in my >> mind, it assumes malice aforethought on the part of the cuckoo >> (which isn't appropriate in the case I'm thinking of). >> Like Odysseus mentioned in his response, I have this vague >> feeling that there's a proverbial example which is just eluding >> me -- but maybe I'm just imagining that, and there isn't one... > I don't hink there's any malice on the cuckoo's part - just a > genetic imperative. > But I must apologise for not reading your original post more > carefully? Little Shop of Horrors?
I like that. (Feed me. Feed me NOW!)
> I had a thought to Google on "it just grew like a" and I got these > phrases:
-snip good examples-
Many thanks; much food for thought there.
I think I'll probably compare it to an invasive plant -- like a Russian vine, or Japanese knotweed.
(As mentioned in another response, I'm describing the growth of Heathrow airport -- which in 1946 was thought to be containable.)
-- Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years; Southern England for the past 22 years. (for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
>>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially >>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but >>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it >>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it. >> Grew like Topsy?
I'm not sure, but I think that merely implies haphazard growth rather than sheer size.
> Cancer, if you feel negative enough about it. That's a part of an > organism that grows out of control. Some kind of benign tumour?
I'm trying to be analytical rather than taking sides: it's a descriptive summary of the growth of Heathrow airport -- which in 1946 was thought to be a containable development -- and it's fairly important to avoid partisan commentary.
As mentioned in a response to John Dean, I think I'll compare it to an vigorous but invasive plant (a Russian vine or similar).
-- Cheers, Harvey
Ottawa/Toronto/Edmonton for 30 years; Southern England for the past 22 years. (for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
<harvey.n...@ntlworld.com> wrote: >On 27 Sep 2004, John Dean wrote >> Harvey Van Sickle wrote:
>>>>>> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally >>>>>> overwhelms its environment?
>-snip-
>>> In response to all three of you, I suppose "cuckooo in the nest" >>> could be used, but it seems to stretch the concept for me: in my >>> mind, it assumes malice aforethought on the part of the cuckoo >>> (which isn't appropriate in the case I'm thinking of).
>>> Like Odysseus mentioned in his response, I have this vague >>> feeling that there's a proverbial example which is just eluding >>> me -- but maybe I'm just imagining that, and there isn't one...
>> I don't hink there's any malice on the cuckoo's part - just a >> genetic imperative. >> But I must apologise for not reading your original post more >> carefully? Little Shop of Horrors?
>I like that. (Feed me. Feed me NOW!)
>> I had a thought to Google on "it just grew like a" and I got these >> phrases:
>-snip good examples-
>Many thanks; much food for thought there.
>I think I'll probably compare it to an invasive plant -- like a Russian >vine, or Japanese knotweed.
There are a few critters that bring the "invasive" image to mind, such as zebra mussels, rabbits (in Australia) and fire ants.
Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" sp...@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
Harvey Van Sickle wrote: > CB wrote: >> Qp10qp wrote: >>> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >>>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially >>>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but >>>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it >>>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
>>> Grew like Topsy?
> I'm not sure, but I think that merely implies haphazard growth rather > than sheer size.
>> Cancer, if you feel negative enough about it. That's a part of an >> organism that grows out of control. Some kind of benign tumour?
> I'm trying to be analytical rather than taking sides: it's a > descriptive summary of the growth of Heathrow airport -- which in 1946 > was thought to be a containable development -- and it's fairly > important to avoid partisan commentary.
> As mentioned in a response to John Dean, I think I'll compare it to an > vigorous but invasive plant (a Russian vine or similar).
> >>>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially > >>>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but > >>>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it > >>>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
> >>> Grew like Topsy?
> > I'm not sure, but I think that merely implies haphazard growth rather > > than sheer size.
> >> Cancer, if you feel negative enough about it. That's a part of an > >> organism that grows out of control. Some kind of benign tumour?
> > I'm trying to be analytical rather than taking sides: it's a > > descriptive summary of the growth of Heathrow airport -- which in 1946 > > was thought to be a containable development -- and it's fairly > > important to avoid partisan commentary.
> > As mentioned in a response to John Dean, I think I'll compare it to an > > vigorous but invasive plant (a Russian vine or similar).
> The "kudzu" would be a good choice. See:
Yes, "the vine that ate the South". Also the title of a fairly funny comic strip. But is it known enough beyond the US and Japan to qualify as metaphor material? -- dg (domain=ccwebster)
> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists > well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big > -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything > else around it.
> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted > on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also > don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean > something which invades the environment with the intention of > eventually taking over.
> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms its > environment?
Harvey Van Sickle wrote: > On 27 Sep 2004, CB wrote > > "Qp10qp" <qp1...@aol.com> wrote in message > > news:20040927100753.22383.00001171@mb-m17.aol.com... > >>> Subject: What metaphor am I trying to think of? > >>> From: Harvey Van Sickle
> >>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially > >>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but > >>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it > >>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
> >> Grew like Topsy?
> I'm not sure, but I think that merely implies haphazard growth rather > than sheer size.
I thought "grew like Topsy" meant it didn't appear to have an origin. The way I remember the _Oxford Dictionary of Quotations_ (I haven't read _Uncle Tom's Cabin_) is that Topsy said something like, "I don't have no mother or father. I 'spect I jes' grew."
On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:17:22 UTC, Harvey Van Sickle <harvey.n...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists > well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big > -- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything > else around it.
A mushroom? A balloon?
Alice and the DRINK ME in the White Rabbit's house?
The children's story about "little pot boil"?
Spread (or grew) like wildfire, weeds, or a plague?
-- John Varela (Trade "OLD" lamps for "NEW" for email.) I apologize for munging the address but the spam was too much.
>Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >> On 27 Sep 2004, david56 wrote
>>> John Dean typed thus:
>>>> Harvey Van Sickle wrote: >>>>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially >>>>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but >>>>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it >>>>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
>>>>> I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was >>>>> foisted on the host and that it's useless as well as >>>>> resource-sapping. I also don't think it's "a cuckoo in the >>>>> nest" -- I take that to mean something which invades the >>>>> environment with the intention of eventually taking over.
>>>>> What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally >>>>> overwhelms its environment?
>>>> Cuckoo in the nest?
>>> Tee hee. I managed a final check through my reply before I posted >>> the answer he said he didn't want, or that would have made three.
>> I saw that, too!
>> In response to all three of you, I suppose "cuckooo in the nest" could >> be used, but it seems to stretch the concept for me: in my mind, it >> assumes malice aforethought on the part of the cuckoo (which isn't >> appropriate in the case I'm thinking of).
>> Like Odysseus mentioned in his response, I have this vague feeling >> that there's a proverbial example which is just eluding me -- but >> maybe I'm just imagining that, and there isn't one...
>I don't hink there's any malice on the cuckoo's part - just a genetic >imperative.
True, but it appears to be malicious. If a human did the same thing and it wasn't an emergency, it would be. Whereas, the Heathrow people probably didn't look so far into the future. They probably didn't even use all the land they bought, at first.
>But I must apologise for not reading your original post more carefully? >Little Shop of Horrors? >I had a thought to Google on "it just grew like a" and I got these
Good idea!
>phrases:
>... it just grew like a garden from the seeds >I had planted and nurtured and was harvested when the fruit was ripe and >...
>... To me ListProc doesn't look like it was >designed, it just grew like a weed.
>... I did not really direct it, it just grew like a tree on its own."
>... designed the site for a million page views a month. It just grew >like a bat out of hell.
Even though you found it, it makes no sense. Bats coming out of hell are not known for their growth. My aunt used the phrase correctly, describing my mother and the family car. "You back down that driveway [so fast it's] like a bat out of Hell." This was before power steering and the car weighed more than 3000 pounds. But my mother went pretty fast.
>...
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years Indianapolis, 7 years Chicago, 6 years Brooklyn NY 12 years Baltimore 20 years
> >>> I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially > >>> co-exists well with other things in its environment, but > >>> eventually grows so big -- without intending to -- that it > >>> absorbs or squeezes out everything else around it.
> >> Grew like Topsy?
> I'm not sure, but I think that merely implies haphazard growth rather > than sheer size.
Googling for ways to finish "(just) grew like..." ("gangbusters" and "wildfire" are popular choices), I came across a nice mondegreen that appeared in the Arizona Daily Star:
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/relatedarticles/4644.php The Amado Territory Ranch is anchored by an 11-room bed and breakfast inn, Amado Territory Inn, that has spectacular views and serene natural surroundings. The rest of the land was quickly leased by other vendors. "It just grew like top seed," Art Gould said.
Clearly the original expression, "just grew like Topsy" (referring to Topsy in _Uncle Tom's Cabin_, who "jes grew"), was unknown to Mr. Gould, or the reporter, or both. But who knows, this could be a folk etymology in progress -- as the original referent of "Topsy" becomes less and less familiar, the term could get reanalyzed as "top seed", which sounds like something that might grow quickly.
In alt.english.usage on Mon, 27 Sep 2004 08:17:22 GMT Harvey Van Sickle <harvey.n...@ntlworld.com> posted:
>I'm missing a metaphor: the one where something initially co-exists >well with other things in its environment, but eventually grows so big >-- without intending to -- that it absorbs or squeezes out everything >else around it.
Ralph, you're so big that when you lie around the house, you LIE AROUND the HOUSE..
But that's not the one you mean.
>I'm sure it's not a white elephant: that implies that it was foisted >on the host and that it's useless as well as resource-sapping. I also >don't think it's "a cuckoo in the nest" -- I take that to mean >something which invades the environment with the intention of >eventually taking over.
>What does one call a co-inhabitant which unintentionally overwhelms its >environment?
s/ meirman If you are emailing me please say if you are posting the same response.
Born west of Pittsburgh Pa. 10 years Indianapolis, 7 years Chicago, 6 years Brooklyn NY 12 years Baltimore 20 years
