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if an idiom falls in the forest
Aug. 3rd, 2011 08:13 amOn a conference call yesterday with my boss, and in discussing the fact that the project is wrapping up I said "We're definitely getting down to the short strokes, folks". My boss made a horrified face and started waving his hands wildly, and after I hung up the phone he said "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST SAID THAT!".
"Why, because I don't actually like golf?"
"No, that saying! It's like..." Demonstrates thrusting hips from his chair.
"Oh, shit. I always thought it was like, down to your putt shots in golf, like, short-distance strokes, see?" but he shook his head doubtfully.
Now, I've looked it up all over the internet and the consensus appears to be that I'm right and the expression does relate to golf (or, unexpectedly, painting) but what difference does this make if the person I am talking to thinks it means the other thing? I wonder how many folks I've inadvertently insulted in the last 15 years?
Sheesh. Language is complicated.
"Why, because I don't actually like golf?"
"No, that saying! It's like..." Demonstrates thrusting hips from his chair.
"Oh, shit. I always thought it was like, down to your putt shots in golf, like, short-distance strokes, see?" but he shook his head doubtfully.
Now, I've looked it up all over the internet and the consensus appears to be that I'm right and the expression does relate to golf (or, unexpectedly, painting) but what difference does this make if the person I am talking to thinks it means the other thing? I wonder how many folks I've inadvertently insulted in the last 15 years?
Sheesh. Language is complicated.
