It was Rosie who started this train of thought. There are so many ordinary everyday words which can be interpreted in two ways.
And mouse can be a small animal or part of your IT equipment
I'm sure you can think of lots of other examples.
Then I came across two very odd, totally unconnected pairs of things which share names. And involve the word control
I can tell Alexa to switch on the bedroom light if my hands are carrying a large laundry basket.
But bizarre though this term with two very different interpretations is, this next one made me laugh out loud in the discount store...
I mean, I saw this kitchen item, and thought of the tank engine's friend
I've always loved words which have opposite meanings, like sanction and cleave. I shall make a point of watching Countdown today!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I think they are great (there are a few old hymns which include cleave with both meanings)
DeleteWords are fascinating things!
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DeleteOh, must watch Countdown today. How good to see someone you know on TV. Hope he did well, has he told you already or is it a secret?
ReplyDeleteMy lips are sealed
DeleteDefinitely thought of Thomas! That's exciting re Julian. I'm not in but surely I could find it on Catch-up?
ReplyDeleteKx
It should be on catch up
DeleteWill watch Countdown today-how exciting! Catriona
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteAn American friend of mine thinks I'm completely mad for not having a controller for all of our lights. I confess that I'm of an age that makes me wary of gadgets, even ones that are supposed to make life easier and admit that if anything I quite enjoy the process of switching lamps on and off! It makes me feel in control!
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the 1950's children's TV programme about Mr Pastry? I remember hiding behind the sofa during an episode where the washing machine developed a mind of its own and filled the kitchen with soap suds. You just never know.......
I can't remember which rooms bob has added to the system! I never found Mr pastry very funny tbh
DeleteOh mention of Mr Pastry made me feel as frightened as I was as a child - hated that programme - why was it even turned on?
DeleteI'm sure the BBC would never show it nowadays
DeleteI loved Mr Pastry but am wondering who Julian is?
DeleteJulian is the son of my late cousin, and having no other close relatives, he now calls me his auntie-mum. He's very much part of our immediate family now.
DeleteThere will only ever be one Fat Controller for me ... the top hatted gentleman. :-)
ReplyDeleteIn America I think they call him Sir Topham Hat.
DeleteI volunteer helping newcomers and International students with conversational English and it is things like this that can cause much confusion - and much laughter!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds fascinating and fun
DeleteI've never seen Thomas and Friends, so I don't know names for any characters. Not all Americans are high tech. I only have a smartphone, laptop and kindle. No Alexa, controllers, or whatever. My TV isn't even connected to streaming. I use an antenna, so if a programme is not available over the air I don't watch it! What's funny is of my closest friends here, I'm the most tech savvy!
ReplyDeleteThomas is a very British story about steam trains. I met the author (Rev Awdry) when I was a student in 1976. He was in a local bookshop signing his books, and I wanted one as a gift for a friend. I was so disappointed to find he was dressed very scruffily and did not smell very pleasant!
DeleteCouldn’t watch the end of Countdown, but hope Julian did very well. Fame in the family! Xx
ReplyDeleteHe did well, especially on the numbers, but was beaten by the other contestant
DeleteHow lovely that your Julian took part in Countdown. I used to watch it with DMIL when I went over to visit her. I hope it went well.
ReplyDeleteWe are very proud of him
DeleteI commented, yesterday, about words with two or more meanings, but, maybe it didn't go through.
ReplyDeleteI hope your cousin did well on the Countdown - not quite sure what it is, but, sounds like a sort of game show?
I never saw it Bless, which is unusual, your comments mostly arrive ok. Countdown is a letters and numbers game. You get 30 seconds to make a word from a set of 9 randomly chosen letters, and a similar numbers puzzle.its been going about 40 years on UK TV (5 days a week!)
DeleteI never saw it Bless, which is unusual, your comments mostly arrive ok. Countdown is a letters and numbers game. You get 30 seconds to make a word from a set of 9 randomly chosen letters, and a similar numbers puzzle.its been going about 40 years on UK TV (5 days a week!)
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