origin of "Trouble comes in Threes"
Mary
or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
What person originally said it?
Donna Richoux
That sort of thing is a folk saying -- it's not like a line from a poem,
play or speech, where you have a chance of finding out who said it
first.
It's not in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations or the Oxford Dictionary
of English Proverbs. That one does have quite a few quotes about the
third time being lucky, going back to 1350, if you want those.
The Dictionary of Superstitions (Opie & Tatem) has a section on
accidents coming by threes, in particular the custom of deliberately
breaking a third object after breaking two. The first citation is:
1849 Norfolk Archaeology II 47: A boy who cuts his hand expects to do
so other twice.
--
Best wishes --- Donna Richoux
jan sand
wrote:
It was probably said by someone who didn't survive the fourth
occurrance.
Jan Sand
Bertel Lund Hansen
>> What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
>That sort of thing is a folk saying --
It's known in Danish, though most of the time we just say: "An
accident seldom comes alone." The three-part is no mystery as
this is a much used number in religion and superstition.
--
Bertel, Denmark
Charles Riggs
wrote:
>Mary <tomb...@city-net.com> wrote:
>
>> What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
>> or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
>>
>> What person originally said it?
>
>That sort of thing is a folk saying -- it's not like a line from a poem,
>play or speech, where you have a chance of finding out who said it
>first.
>
>It's not in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations or the Oxford Dictionary
>of English Proverbs. That one does have quite a few quotes about the
>third time being lucky, going back to 1350, if you want those.
I don't dispute your year, but The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
lists "Third time lucky" in its Proverbs section and says it goes back
to the mid nineteenth century. The OED gives more recent citations,
only:
1942 N. Marsh Death & Dancing Footman vii. 123 It was a glancing blow
but it might have been my head. One of them's saying to himself:
‘Third time lucky’. 1979 J. Tate tr. Blom's Limits of Pain ix. 82
Lars Westerberg discovered that the expression third time lucky had
something in it.
Unfortunately, "comes in three" appears nowhere in the OED.
My own bet is that the notion that luck or trouble comes in threes is
so old and so universally accepted, we could never pin it down in
origin. See, Donna, I don't always disagree with you! (Private joke.)
Charles Riggs
John Holmes
"Donna Richoux" <tr...@euronet.nl> wrote in message
news:1f6p0ie.1gz26o61xgitgoN%tr...@euronet.nl...
The number three is much more often associated with good luck than bad.
There's an old soldiers' superstition, variously said to date from the
Crimean or Boer Wars that it is bad luck to light three cigarettes with
one match. Obviously that would give any would-be sniper a good sight at
a target. However , I have also seen a suggestion that it relates to a
Russian Orthodox prohibition on lighting the three altar candles with
one taper.
--
Regards
John
felix
> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux)
> wrote:
>
> >Mary <tomb...@city-net.com> wrote:
> >
> >> What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
> >> or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
Probably the fact that troubles tend to come in groups of three.
> My own bet is that the notion that luck or trouble comes in threes is
> so old and so universally accepted, we could never pin it down in
> origin. See, Donna, I don't always disagree with you! (Private joke.)
Mahler: his daughter died, he was diagnosed with a heart problem, and
um, his wife started planning which architects she was going to
schmooze with after his demise - see the Sixth Symphony with its three
'hammer blows.'
felix
Donna Richoux
> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux)
> wrote:
> >That sort of thing is a folk saying -- it's not like a line from a poem,
> >play or speech, where you have a chance of finding out who said it
> >first.
> >
> >It's not in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations or the Oxford Dictionary
> >of English Proverbs. That one does have quite a few quotes about the
> >third time being lucky, going back to 1350, if you want those.
>
> I don't dispute your year, but The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations
> lists "Third time lucky" in its Proverbs section and says it goes back
> to the mid nineteenth century. The OED gives more recent citations,
> only:
>
> 1942 N. Marsh Death & Dancing Footman vii. 123 It was a glancing blow
> but it might have been my head. One of them's saying to himself:
> 禅hird time lucky'. 1979 J. Tate tr. Blom's Limits of Pain ix. 82
> Lars Westerberg discovered that the expression third time lucky had
> something in it.
Yes, I was being very general when I said "about the third time being
lucky," it covers a range of quotes. The two from the 1300s were listed
in the section headed "Third times pays for all," and they actually ran:
the thrid time throwes best
Thrid tyme throwe best
The "throwing" being a throw of the dice.
Other forms:
The third payes home
The third pays for all (Shakespeare)
the third time pays for all.
The third is a charm.
"The luck of the third adventure" is proverbial.
Third time's lucky (1862)
All things thrive at thrice.
This is the third time; I hope good luck lies in odd numbers.
For there's luck in odd numbers.
--
Best -- Donna Richoux
masakim
Mary wrote:
_A Dictionary od American Proverbs_ (1992) doesn't give "Trouble comes
in threes," but "Trouble comes in twos."
Trouble never comesa single-handed.
Var[iant]s:
(a) Trouble comes in bunches.
(b) Trouble comes in bunches like grapes.
(c) Trouble comes in twos.
(d) Trouble never comes single.
(e) Trouble never comes singly.
(f) Troubles always come in bunches.
(g) Troubles never come singly.
Rec[orded] dist[ribution]: U.S.
"Bad luck comes in threes" is entered there.
Bad luck comes in threes.
Rec. dis.: Mich., N.Y., Wash.
Regards,
masakim
Robert Bannister
German is the other way round: "Alle guten Dinge sind drei" - all
good things come in threes
--
Rob Bannister
Skitt
"Robert Bannister" <rob...@it.net.au> wrote in message
news:3C55F7AF...@it.net.au...
I have heard the "threes" applied to deaths, usually those of celebrities.
Quite often, once a famous person dies, there are a couple others following
in fairly close succession, or it seems that way when reading the
newspapers.
--
Skitt (in SF Bay Area) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/
I speak English well -- I learn it from a book!
-- Manuel of "Fawlty Towers" (he's from Barcelona).
Padraig Breathnach
>I have heard the "threes" applied to deaths, usually those of celebrities.
>Quite often, once a famous person dies, there are a couple others following
>in fairly close succession, or it seems that way when reading the
>newspapers.
On a more mundane level: I have frequently heard it said of punctures.
PB
Skitt
"Padraig Breathnach" <padr...@iol.ie> wrote in message
news:pp0c5ug77ssb78jft...@4ax.com...
Yeah, that too. Tire-wise.
Padraig Breathnach
>
>"Padraig Breathnach" <padr...@iol.ie> wrote in message
>news:pp0c5ug77ssb78jft...@4ax.com...
>> "Skitt" <sk...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>>
>> >I have heard the "threes" applied to deaths, usually those of
>celebrities.
>> >Quite often, once a famous person dies, there are a couple others
>following
>> >in fairly close succession, or it seems that way when reading the
>> >newspapers.
>>
>> On a more mundane level: I have frequently heard it said of punctures.
>
>Yeah, that too. Tire-wise.
Or even tyre-wise.
PB
Pan
The first hammer blow represented his forced resignation as Music
Director of the Staatsoper Wien due to antisemitism, as I understand
from my research.
Michael
To reply by email, please take out the TRASH (so to speak). Personal messages only, please!
Ben Zimmer
Not to mention NJ, as represented by "The Sopranos". In one episode the
character Uncle Junior, worried about his own mortality after the death
of two associates, mutters "These things come in threes."
--Ben
R H Draney
<bgzi...@midway.uchicago.edu> wrote:
>Not to mention NJ, as represented by "The Sopranos". In one episode the
>character Uncle Junior, worried about his own mortality after the death
>of two associates, mutters "These things come in threes."
Odd that a present-day Italian-American would believe in the
Erinyes....r
felix
> The first hammer blow represented his forced resignation as Music
> Director of the Staatsoper Wien due to antisemitism, as I understand
> from my research.
Oh yes, that was it. Thanks.
On the personal front, last week someone shunted me on the motorway,
this week they broke my car window and stole my phone, so I'm just
waiting for the next one. What a nice feeling *that* is!
felix
Donna Richoux
>
> On the personal front, last week someone shunted me on the motorway,
> this week they broke my car window and stole my phone, so I'm just
> waiting for the next one. What a nice feeling *that* is!
Hence the superstitious custom of the deliberate third -- go break a
glass jar or something, and that may appease the gods. If they're a
little stupid.
What is "shunt," exactly? I think of it as moving railway engines around
a station yard.
Matti Lamprhey
> felix <fel...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On the personal front, last week someone shunted me on the motorway
>
> What is "shunt," exactly? I think of it as moving railway engines around
> a station yard.
It means that one car gets "shunted" into another by a third car. It's used
in both noun and verb forms, the noun being for example: "There was a
multiple shunt on the M6 this morning."
Matti
Apurbva Chandra Senray
I'm still not quite sure I get it. Does it mean the third car
forced you into the lane of the other car thereby causing a collision?
Pat Durkin
"Apurbva Chandra Senray" <acse...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:c7482783.02013...@posting.google.com...
I agree, this highway use of the term is a bit vague to me as well.
As I say "shunted" I think in terms of being crowded out of my
position by an aggressive or inattentive driver (usually passing or
"overtaking", but sometimes merging onto the major highway), being
forced to leave my preferred lane and thereby crowding into the next
lane over. Sometimes the more aggressive driver "cuts in front of me"
too quickly, while at other times the driver appears to be driving
with the passenger side of his vehicle on my side of the lane dividing
line.
I don't necessarily have an accident, but might be forced into an exit
lane when I don't wish, or may force the person that I am crowding to
take some other emergency action.
When some of our expressways get too crowded at bottleneck areas, the
police also "shunt" a lane or two of traffic onto regular highways,
but that is more akin to the railroad yard shunting.
Matti Lamprhey
> "Matti Lamprhey" <matti-...@totally-official.com> wrote...
> > "Donna Richoux" <tr...@euronet.nl> wrote...
> > > felix <fel...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > On the personal front, last week someone shunted me on the motorway
> > [...]
> > >
> > > What is "shunt," exactly? I think of it as moving railway engines
> > > around a station yard.
> >
> > It means that one car gets "shunted" into another by a third car. It's
> > used in both noun and verb forms, the noun being for example: "There was
> > a multiple shunt on the M6 this morning."
>
> I'm still not quite sure I get it. Does it mean the third car
> forced you into the lane of the other car thereby causing a collision?
The usual "shunt" situation is where two cars stop suddenly leaving a gap
between them, but a following car doesn't spot it or isn't able to stop in
time and "shunts" the middle car into the back of the front car. It often
creates an interesting problem for insurance and no-claims bonuses.
Matti
Don Aitken
Senray) wrote:
No, it means a car coming from behind hits you and pushes you forward
into the car in front. Something that usually happens in very slow
moving traffic, so it's merely totally exasperating (especially since
there is nothing at all you can do to avoid it) rather than actually
dangerous. It may also be called a "shunt" even if you don't actually
hit the car in front. You can take what comfort you may from the fact
that it's someone else's fault, and their insurance company will pay
up without argument.
--
Don Aitken
Pat Durkin
You and Don Aiken have explained a word usage totally new to me, but
that fits the M6 description... except for what a "multiple shunt" is.
blip
news:1f6vj0x.1pb1gsv1372453N%tr...@euronet.nl:
not so much the engines as the rolling stock, which is moved about by a
shunting engine. so being shunted involves being moved from one postion to
another by a second vehicle. it could be used metaphorically as well, just
as you might say, "i was pushed off the road by another car", without
actually making physical contact. by extension shunt is also used medically
for something either preexisting or therapeutically introduced which moves
something, typically a fluid from one place to another; a ventricular shunt
which allows cerebrospinal fluid to drain from one chamber to another, or
an a-v shunt which moves arterial blood into the venous system.
--
blip
Pan
>panNO...@musician.org (Pan) wrote in message news:<3c5651f1...@news.erols.com>...
>
>> The first hammer blow represented his forced resignation as Music
>> Director of the Staatsoper Wien due to antisemitism, as I understand
>> from my research.
>
>Oh yes, that was it. Thanks.
Glad to help. :-)
>On the personal front, last week someone shunted me on the motorway,
>this week they broke my car window and stole my phone, so I'm just
>waiting for the next one. What a nice feeling *that* is!
Sorry about that. Hang in there, Felix.
Charles Riggs
As an American, I'd reserve shunted for cases where a vehicle,
especially a train, is shunted onto a siding. I find the usage you
describe surprising; the COD half supports me and half doesn't.
Charles Riggs
Padraig Breathnach
>As an American, I'd reserve shunted for cases where a vehicle,
>especially a train, is shunted onto a siding. I find the usage you
>describe surprising; the COD half supports me and half doesn't.
>
I didn't think that the COD came in two volumes.
PB
Mickwick
>"Matti Lamprhey" <matti-...@totally-official.com> wrote in message
>>The usual "shunt" situation is where two cars stop suddenly leaving a
>>gap between them, but a following car doesn't spot it or isn't able to
>>stop in time and "shunts" the middle car into the back of the front
>>car. It often creates an interesting problem for insurance and no
>>claims bonuses. Thanks for the picture..
>You and Don Aiken have explained a word usage totally new to me, but
>that fits the M6 description... except for what a "multiple shunt" is.
My much-loved early '70s Rover 3500 was written off in a multiple shunt
when parked outside my house.
Some maniac had an argument with his wife and spent half an hour or so
driving her car up and down the street deliberately crashing it into
walls, lamp posts and parked cars. He walloped the car parked behind
mine so hard that it walloped mine so hard that mine shunted the next
car into a fourth car (and possibly the fourth damaged a fifth, I don't
remember).
He damaged twelve or fifteen cars in all. Last time I looked, there were
still exhaust burns on the brickwork of a house he had tried to push
over by reversing against it. (I somehow slept through all of this.)
The Rover - which was built like a tank, so god knows what the maniac
was driving - would have been difficult to repair, parts being very
scarce, so I wrote it off, which I regret. The insurance co. probably
would have insisted on writing it off but I didn't even try. (A truly
beautiful car. It could burn anything off at traffic lights, nought to
thirty anyway. Leather seats. It sounded like a Riva speedboat. They're
collectors items now. Sniff.)
It took all the different insurance companies nearly a year to sort it
all out, despite only one driver being involved. Perhaps they had to
wait for the court case, or perhaps they just like paperwork.
Anyway, that's what a multiple shunt is, in English usage.
--
Mickwick
Charles Riggs
wrote:
I usually just wrap mine in newspaper.
Charles Riggs
Pat Durkin
"Mickwick" <use...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:zviuZODl...@wickenden.demon.co.uk...
> In alt.usage.english, Pat Durkin <du...@nothome.com> wrote:
> >"Matti Lamprhey" <matti-...@totally-official.com> wrote in
message
>
> >>The usual "shunt" situation is where two cars stop suddenly
leaving a
> >>gap between them, but a following car doesn't spot it or isn't
able to
> >>stop in time and "shunts" the middle car into the back of the
front
> >>car. It often creates an interesting problem for insurance and no
> >>claims bonuses. Thanks for the picture..
> My much-loved early '70s Rover 3500 was written off in a multiple
shunt
> when parked outside my house.
>
> Some maniac had an argument with his wife and spent half an hour or
so
> driving her car up and down the street deliberately crashing it into
> walls, lamp posts and parked cars. He walloped the car parked behind
> mine so hard that it walloped mine so hard that mine shunted the
next
> car into a fourth car (and possibly the fourth damaged a fifth, I
don't
> remember).
>
> Anyway, that's what a multiple shunt is, in English usage.
OK. We hear of massive pile-ups, mainly in foggy driving conditions,
referred to as chain-reactions. The ones I hear of, involving from 20
to 100+ vehicles seem to happen most often in the interstate highways
going through some mountains. Maybe through the highlands in New
York, Pennsylvania, the Appalachians.
Some occur where fog is spotty and unpredictable, perhaps while
rounding a turn, and others on that notorious black ice, which also
can be spotty.
felix
> felix <fel...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > On the personal front, last week someone shunted me on the motorway,
> > this week they broke my car window and stole my phone, so I'm just
> > waiting for the next one. What a nice feeling *that* is!
>
> Hence the superstitious custom of the deliberate third -- go break a
> glass jar or something, and that may appease the gods. If they're a
> little stupid.
Thanks Donna, I cast a cafetiere to the ground at the weekend - by
accident, so I hope the thing's done and dusted.
felix
Mickwick
>OK. We hear of massive pile-ups, mainly in foggy driving conditions,
>referred to as chain-reactions. The ones I hear of, involving from 20
>to 100+ vehicles seem to happen most often in the interstate highways
>going through some mountains. Maybe through the highlands in New
>York, Pennsylvania, the Appalachians.
>
>Some occur where fog is spotty and unpredictable, perhaps while
>rounding a turn, and others on that notorious black ice, which also
>can be spotty.
Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty, in
Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was once
an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
Is this another translacunian dialectal difference?
--
Mickwick
Is there inne heavenne aught more rare
Thanne thou sweete Nymphe of Avon fayre?
Is there onne Earthe a manne more trewe
Than Willy Shakespeare is toe you?
Richard Fontana
> In alt.usage.english, Pat Durkin <p...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >OK. We hear of massive pile-ups, mainly in foggy driving conditions,
> >referred to as chain-reactions. The ones I hear of, involving from 20
> >to 100+ vehicles seem to happen most often in the interstate highways
> >going through some mountains. Maybe through the highlands in New
> >York, Pennsylvania, the Appalachians.
> >
> >Some occur where fog is spotty and unpredictable, perhaps while
> >rounding a turn, and others on that notorious black ice, which also
> >can be spotty.
>
> Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty, in
> Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was once
> an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
>
> Is this another translacunian dialectal difference?
I don't think so. I've never heard of fog being called
"spotty" (NTTAWWT). Most ordinary North American humans don't speak of
"patchy fog" either, but North American weatherpersons and
meteorological journalists do.
perchprism
> In alt.usage.english, Pat Durkin <p...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >OK. We hear of massive pile-ups, mainly in foggy driving conditions,
> >referred to as chain-reactions. The ones I hear of, involving from 20
> >to 100+ vehicles seem to happen most often in the interstate highways
> >going through some mountains. Maybe through the highlands in New
> >York, Pennsylvania, the Appalachians.
> >
> >Some occur where fog is spotty and unpredictable, perhaps while
> >rounding a turn, and others on that notorious black ice, which also
> >can be spotty.
>
> Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty, in
> Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was once
> an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
>
> Is this another translacunian dialectal difference?
Yes, in that we don't say "spotty" for "pimply." I know this because the
word puzzled me the first few times I heard it in British English. We do
call fog "patchy," though; it's what the weatherman calls it. I don't think
you can say "spotty" is a word you necessarily expect with "fog" the way
"patchy" is, but there is no acne-related reason not to use it instead.
--
Perchprism
(southern New Jersey, near Philadelphia)
James Follett
<use...@nospam.demon.co.uk> writes
>
>Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty, in
>Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was once
>an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
I have a feeling that the British decision to change of name of the
traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
death on aue in my absence.
--
James Follett Novelist (Callsign G1LXP) http://www.davew.demon.co.uk
Matti Lamprhey
> Mickwick <use...@nospam.demon.co.uk> writes
> >
> >Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty, in
> >Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was once
> >an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
>
> I have a feeling that the British decision to change of name of the
> traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
> death on aue in my absence.
And the Blessed Delia is going to be showing how to bring off the Spotted
Dick this very evening, if I'm unmistaken.
Matti
Pat Durkin
> In alt.usage.english, Pat Durkin <p...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >OK. We hear of massive pile-ups, mainly in foggy driving
conditions,
> >referred to as chain-reactions. The ones I hear of, involving from
20
> >to 100+ vehicles seem to happen most often in the interstate
highways
> >going through some mountains. Maybe through the highlands in New
> >York, Pennsylvania, the Appalachians.
> >
> >Some occur where fog is spotty and unpredictable, perhaps while
> >rounding a turn, and others on that notorious black ice, which also
> >can be spotty.
>
> Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty,
in
> Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was
once
> an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
>
> Is this another translacunian dialectal difference?
I must admit, patchy is probably the more common expression to
describe both intermittent fog and ice, but I don't think my way of
describing them is totally off the wall.
While driving, I may come to spots (places) in which there is fog, or
ice, or both.
Sometimes there may be a wide spot in the road. This would not be
ice, nor fog, but simply a place in which the lanes widen to enable
traffic to pass cars slowing to make a turn.
There are some interesting spots to visit on your next trip to our
fair state.
Do the British not say "Stop in and have a spot of tea" or "We had a
spot of trouble"?
Am I the only USan who talks this way? (I mean, before I started
recalling some Briticisms. Hmmm... is that right?)
James Follett
<matti-...@totally-official.com> writes
>"James Follett" <ja...@marage.demon.co.uk> wrote...
>> I have a feeling that the British decision to change of name of the
>> traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
>> death on aue in my absence.
>
>And the Blessed Delia is going to be showing how to bring off the Spotted
>Dick this very evening, if I'm unmistaken.
She did, too! Furthermore, she came out with a plea for the preservation
of English hot puddings which she claimed, somewhat sweepingly I
thought, that they were the best in the world. That lass is one hot
pudding I wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into. I have visions of her
dressed in black vinyl, armed with a whip, telling me to eat my greens.
--
James Follett Novelist (Callsign G1LXP) http://www.davew.demon.co.uk Part 1
audio CD of "Mindwarp" (prelude to Earthsearch) with Colin Baker & Neil Henry
now avail from Big Finish Productions http://www.bigfinish.net/earthsearch
felix
I don't get those cable porn channels - shame.
felix
Stephen Toogood
<matti-...@totally-official.com> writes
you want to know about this you'll have to but the book' kind of way.
Do you think we were short-changed?
--
Stephen Toogood
Matti Lamprhey
> Matti Lamprhey <matti-...@totally-official.com> writes
> >"James Follett" <ja...@marage.demon.co.uk> wrote...
>
> >> I have a feeling that the British decision to change of name of the
> >> traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
> >> death on aue in my absence.
> >
> >And the Blessed Delia is going to be showing how to bring off the Spotted
> >Dick this very evening, if I'm unmistaken.
>
> She did, too! Furthermore, she came out with a plea for the preservation
> of English hot puddings which she claimed, somewhat sweepingly I
> thought, that they were the best in the world. That lass is one hot
> pudding I wouldn't mind sinking my teeth into. I have visions of her
> dressed in black vinyl, armed with a whip, telling me to eat my greens.
She's a Saint, remember? Is there no limit to your need for sexual
beatification?
Matti
Matti Lamprhey
> Matti Lamprhey <matti-...@totally-official.com> writes
> >"James Follett" <ja...@marage.demon.co.uk> wrote...
> >>
> >> traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
> >> death on aue in my absence.
> >
> >And the Blessed Delia is going to be showing how to bring off the Spotted
> >Dick this very evening, if I'm unmistaken.
> >
> Whereas in reality she did naught but mention it in passing, in a 'if
> you want to know about this you'll have to but the book' kind of way.
>
> Do you think we were short-changed?
I'd prefer to say we got a Raw Delia.
Matti
Matti Lamprhey
> Matti Lamprhey <matti-...@totally-official.com> writes
> >"James Follett" <ja...@marage.demon.co.uk> wrote...
> >>
> >> traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
> >> death on aue in my absence.
> >
> >And the Blessed Delia is going to be showing how to bring off the Spotted
> >Dick this very evening, if I'm unmistaken.
> >
> Whereas in reality she did naught but mention it in passing, in a 'if
> you want to know about this you'll have to but the book' kind of way.
>
> Do you think we were short-changed?
I'd prefer to say we got a Raw Delia.
Matti
Padraig Breathnach
>I'd prefer to say we got a Raw Delia.
>
You clearly like it enough to say it twice, if my ISP is to be
believed.
PB
James Follett
<ste...@stenches.nospam.demon.co.uk> writes
>In article <a3ojsn$19r3ru$5...@ID-103223.news.dfncis.de>, Matti Lamprhey
><matti-...@totally-official.com> writes
>>"James Follett" <ja...@marage.demon.co.uk> wrote...
>>> traditional dish "Spotted Dick" to "Spotted Richard" has been done to
>>> death on aue in my absence.
>>
>>And the Blessed Delia is going to be showing how to bring off the Spotted
>>Dick this very evening, if I'm unmistaken.
>>
>Whereas in reality she did naught but mention it in passing, in a 'if
>you want to know about this you'll have to but the book' kind of way.
A passing mention is all that is needed from divine Delia. A word from
her is as a thousand fanfares on high. Hard to believe that she's so
keen on hairy-arsed footballers. Not just one at a time but she openly
boasts about the pleasure she likes giving to entire teams. She deserves
to be cited in even more dictionaries.
Matti Lamprhey
Yes, sorry 'bout that. The German news server was playing seelige burghers
most of the afternoon.
Matti
Skitt
I noticed that for only about 10 minutes. There was mainly a failure to
respond.
--
Skitt (in SF Bay Area) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/
I speak English well -- I learn it from a book!
-- Manuel (Fawlty Towers)
Jerry Friedman
> "Mickwick" <use...@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:n3trvZBd...@wickenden.demon.co.uk...
> > Most Brits would say that fog is patchy rather than spotty. Spotty,
> in
> > Britain English usage, usually refers to acne, although there was
> once
> > an unblemished children's puppet called Spotty Dog.
> >
> > Is this another translacunian dialectal difference?
>
> I must admit, patchy is probably the more common expression to
> describe both intermittent fog and ice, but I don't think my way of
> describing them is totally off the wall.
I had no trouble with it.
> While driving, I may come to spots (places) in which there is fog, or
> ice, or both.
>
> Sometimes there may be a wide spot in the road. This would not be
> ice, nor fog, but simply a place in which the lanes widen to enable
> traffic to pass cars slowing to make a turn.
>
> There are some interesting spots to visit on your next trip to our
> fair state.
>
> Do the British not say "Stop in and have a spot of tea" or "We had a
> spot of trouble"?
>
> Am I the only USan who talks this way?
No.
> (I mean, before I started
> recalling some Briticisms. Hmmm... is that right?)
Since there's no word "Britic", purists prefer "Britannicism" or
"Britishism"--and impurists may be less likely to use any version.
--
Jerry Friedman
Stephen Toogood
<ja...@marage.demon.co.uk> writes
The authority of famous cooks is a phenomenon worth discussing, since it
tells you lots about the nature of authority.
Nonetheless, I find her emasculation of Pond Pudding into ponsey little
individual servings hard to forgive (last night's programme); honestly,
what use is a tiny portion like that? People who, when offered a good
steamed pudding respond "perhaps just a tiny bit" are worthy of a very
special sort of scorn.
>
I've just (step inside this small confessional) been fantasizing about
the Fragrant Delia going ten rounds with Clarissa Dickson-Wright, who as
you may know is a keen rugby supporter.
No contest, either in sport or in food. Asked by Sue Lawley what she
thought of Delia, Clarissa (perhaps unwisely) replied "Delia cooks for
Middle England". Precisely.
--
Stephen Toogood
N.Mitchum
-----
> Whereas in reality she did naught but mention it in passing, in a 'if
> you want to know about this you'll have to but the book' kind of way.
We're waiting to hear if you butted the book.
----NM
Matti Lamprhey
> >
> I've just (step inside this small confessional) been fantasizing about
> the Fragrant Delia going ten rounds with Clarissa Dickson-Wright, who as
> you may know is a keen rugby supporter.
>
> No contest, either in sport or in food. Asked by Sue Lawley what she
> thought of Delia, Clarissa (perhaps unwisely) replied "Delia cooks for
> Middle England". Precisely.
Clarissa cooks for those who like their recipes to begin: "First take your
shotgun...".
If I get an oubliette for my birthday, I'll use her to christen it.
Matti
motoro...@gmail.com
> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux)
> wrote:
>
> >Mary <tomb...@city-net.com> wrote:
> >
> >> What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
> >> or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
> >>
> >> What person originally said it?
> >
> >That sort of thing is a folk saying -- it's not like a line from a poem,
> >play or speech, where you have a chance of finding out who said it
> >first.
> >
> >It's not in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations or the Oxford Dictionary
> >of English Proverbs. That one does have quite a few quotes about the
> >third time being lucky, going back to 1350, if you want those.
> >
> >The Dictionary of Superstitions (Opie & Tatem) has a section on
> >accidents coming by threes, in particular the custom of deliberately
> >breaking a third object after breaking two. The first citation is:
> >
> > 1849 Norfolk Archaeology II 47: A boy who cuts his hand expects to do
> >so other twice.
> >
> >--
> >Best wishes --- Donna Richoux
>
> It was probably said by someone who didn't survive the fourth
> occurrance.
>
> Jan Sand
LOL great response
henh...@gmail.com
On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 2:51:06 PM UTC-8, Donna Richoux wrote:
>
> > What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
> > or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
> >
> > What person originally said it?
>
> That sort of thing is a folk saying -- it's not like a line from a poem,
> play or speech, where you have a chance of finding out who said it
> first.
>
> It's not in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations or the Oxford Dictionary
> of English Proverbs. That one does have quite a few quotes about the
> third time being lucky, going back to 1350, if you want those.
>
> The Dictionary of Superstitions (Opie & Tatem) has a section on
> accidents coming by threes, in particular the custom of deliberately
> breaking a third object after breaking two. The first citation is:
>
> 1849 Norfolk Archaeology II 47: A boy who cuts his hand expects to do
> so other twice.
>
> --
> Best wishes --- Donna Richoux
Since natural things always come in pairs (think of your eyes, hands, feet, ears), anything that comes in threes is often associated with the abnormal, unnatural or troublesome.
This concept is clearly seen in the short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs.
Hope I could help. :) Source(s): www.sparknotes.com <<<
---- Three could be "good luck" in the East.
---- There are no Threes in the human body, animal body ?
https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080514002508AAGj2WT
Do triangles occur in nature?
Best Answer: It seems that they are very uncommon but I can think of a few examples:
- The fractal patterns on some cone shells
- There are some tetrahedron shaped crystals (fluorite)
- In the arms of starfish
- Orca fins are pretty triangular, as are some shark fins
- In the geometry of spider webs
- Carnivorous Incisors (sharks)
- Serrated leaf margins. (maples form a fractal)
- Triangular stems (Yellow Nutsedge)
- Cross section of fruits (orange)
- Star fruit
- Deltoid shaped leaves are close
- Fern fronds are triangle shaped, but a bit shonky.
David Kleinecke
Very common is religious contexts. One example is Muhammad with
Umar playing hard cop and Abu Bakr soft cop. In Jesus' case the
two followers - left and right - thieves at Golgotha - would be
the Boanerges - which leaves Peter a bit hard to explain. But
that way lies rank heresy.
Robin Bignall
delivered by the German server. Is anybody else?
--
Robin Bignall
Herts, England (BrE)
Harrison Hill
died - but I'd love to be proved wrong. Our turn next Robin :)
Janet
docr...@ntlworld.com says...
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!
msg/alt.usage.english/1uaJGI0BN60/NhtJ4dlhoH0J
Janet
Robin Bignall
strikes again, I guess.
Robert Bannister
--
Robert B. born England a long time ago;
Western Australia since 1972
Reinhold {Rey} Aman
>
> Depends on language: Alle gute Dinge sind drei.
>
"Aller guten Dinge sind drei."
--
~~~ Reinhold {Rey} Aman ~~~
Ross
last week?
bill van
> Robert Bannister wrote:
> >
> > Depends on language: Alle gute Dinge sind drei.
> >
> Keine Zigarre!
>
> "Aller guten Dinge sind drei."
--
bill
Peter T. Daniels
Katy Jennison
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:58:13 -0700 (PDT), Harrison Hill
> <harrison...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wednesday, 16 March 2016 23:51:29 UTC, Robin Bignall wrote:
>>> On Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:58:53 -0700 (PDT), motoro...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 6:52:41 PM UTC-7, jan sand wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux)
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1849 Norfolk Archaeology II 47: A boy who cuts his hand expects to do
>>>>>> so other twice.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Best wishes --- Donna Richoux
>>>>>
>>>>> It was probably said by someone who didn't survive the fourth
>>>>> occurrance.
>>>>>
>>>>> Jan Sand
>>>>
>>>> LOL great response
>>>
>>> I'm not seeing the original posts by either Donna or Jan in AUE as
>>> delivered by the German server. Is anybody else?
>>
>> died - but I'd love to be proved wrong. Our turn next Robin :)
>
> Fingers crossed, here. It never occurred to me to look at the date. GG
> strikes again, I guess.
>
(For some reason I didn't notice Donna's reply.)
--
Katy Jennison
Peter Moylan
three sheep.
--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Peter Moylan
> On Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:58:13 -0700 (PDT), Harrison Hill
> <harrison...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Wednesday, 16 March 2016 23:51:29 UTC, Robin Bignall wrote:
>>> On Wed, 16 Mar 2016 13:58:53 -0700 (PDT), motoro...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 6:52:41 PM UTC-7, jan sand wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux)
>>>>> wrote:
>>> I'm not seeing the original posts by either Donna or Jan in AUE as
>>> delivered by the German server. Is anybody else?
>>
>> died - but I'd love to be proved wrong. Our turn next Robin :)
>
> Fingers crossed, here. It never occurred to me to look at the date. GG
> strikes again, I guess.
lines, including dates. The really annoying zombie threads are the ones
that hide the fact that they're responding to something from the archives.
LFS
strikingly handsome man. He made me a wonderful chocolate cake when I
visited Helsinki.
--
Laura (emulate St George for email)
Lewis
at the time.
<https://poethead.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/poetry-and-images-by-jan-sand/>
On the bio page his birthdate is given as Feb 2 1926
--
'Have you lost your senses?' 'Yes, but I may have found some better
ones.'
Robin Bignall
diverted me from looking at the date. He sent me a couple of his poems
a decade or so ago, and is the only correspondent I've ever come across
who's more pessimistic than I am about the future of the human race.
Robert Bannister
> Robert Bannister wrote:
>>
>> Depends on language: Alle gute Dinge sind drei.
>>
> Keine Zigarre!
>
> "Aller guten Dinge sind drei."
>
certainly been saying it wrongly for a very long time.
Robert Bannister
from the old court, the "Thing", which apparently met three times a
year. If a complaint had not been brought up at the Thing three times in
a row, a judgement could be made in absentia. Or was it the other way
round? I do make a lot of mistakes these days.
davis.be...@lebanonschools.org
> What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
> or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
>
> What person originally said it?
--
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kitk...@moscow.com
> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna Richoux)
> wrote:
>
> >
> >> What is the origin of the phrase "Trouble comes in threes"
> >> or "Bad Luck comes in threes"
> >>
> >> What person originally said it?
> >
> >play or speech, where you have a chance of finding out who said it
> >first.
> >
> >It's not in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations or the Oxford Dictionary
> >of English Proverbs. That one does have quite a few quotes about the
> >third time being lucky, going back to 1350, if you want those.
> >
> >The Dictionary of Superstitions (Opie & Tatem) has a section on
> >accidents coming by threes, in particular the custom of deliberately
> >breaking a third object after breaking two. The first citation is:
> >
> > 1849 Norfolk Archaeology II 47: A boy who cuts his hand expects to do
> >so other twice.
> >
> >--
> >Best wishes --- Donna Richoux
>
>
> Jan Sand
But....if they didn't survive, how could they say it..or anything, for that
matter?
Peter Moylan
> On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 5:52:41 PM UTC-8, jan sand wrote:
>> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna
>> Richoux) wrote:
mind they left long ago. But then I suppose that almost 18 years
qualifies as "long ago".
Peter T. Daniels
> On 06/09/19 08:54, kitk...@moscow.com wrote:
> > On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 5:52:41 PM UTC-8, jan sand wrote:
> >> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna
> >> Richoux) wrote:
> I'm surprised to see that Jan and Donna were still here in 2002. In my
> mind they left long ago. But then I suppose that almost 18 years
> qualifies as "long ago".
repetitions.
Athel Cornish-Bowden
> On 06/09/19 08:54, kitk...@moscow.com wrote:
>> On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 5:52:41 PM UTC-8, jan sand wrote:
>>> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna
>>> Richoux) wrote:
>
> I'm surprised to see that Jan and Donna were still here in 2002. In my
> mind they left long ago. But then I suppose that almost 18 years
> qualifies as "long ago".
her computer was around much longer. I don't remember ever coming acros
Jan (not that Jan, anyway).
--
athel
Tony Cooper
was quite active then. I believe either Maria (Conlon) or Laura met
him, but I don't know where. I think he lived (lives?) in Finland.
Donna sent me an email welcoming me to the group with a warning not to
aggravate Bob Cunningham. Little did she know who the cat would drag
in for me to aggravate.
If you are interested Jan's poems are linked at:
https://www.poemhunter.com/jan-sand/ There are several other
weblinks to his poems.
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida
Katy Jennison
Jan very well.
--
Katy Jennison
Kerr-Mudd,John
wrote:
computer groups with super-naive questions.
--
Bah, and indeed, Humbug.
Athel Cornish-Bowden
--
athel
Peter Moylan
> On Fri, 6 Sep 2019 07:20:59 +0200, Athel Cornish-Bowden
> <acor...@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:
>
>> On 2019-09-06 00:03:30 +0000, Peter Moylan said:
>>
>>> On 06/09/19 08:54, kitk...@moscow.com wrote:
>>>> On Sunday, January 27, 2002 at 5:52:41 PM UTC-8, jan sand
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> On Sun, 27 Jan 2002 23:51:06 +0100, tr...@euronet.nl (Donna
>>>>> Richoux) wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm surprised to see that Jan and Donna were still here in 2002.
>>> In my mind they left long ago. But then I suppose that almost 18
>>> years qualifies as "long ago".
>>
>> Donna was around for a few years after I came here (around 2003),
>> and her computer was around much longer. I don't remember ever
>> coming acros Jan (not that Jan, anyway).
>
> I never can remember when I first started posting here, but Jan Sand
> was quite active then. I believe either Maria (Conlon) or Laura met
> him, but I don't know where. I think he lived (lives?) in Finland.
>
> Donna sent me an email welcoming me to the group with a warning not
> to aggravate Bob Cunningham. Little did she know who the cat would
> drag in for me to aggravate.
who the cat drug in. Bob was a pussycat by comparison.
> If you are interested Jan's poems are linked at:
> https://www.poemhunter.com/jan-sand/ There are several other
> weblinks to his poems.
--