"Lord X was an old buffer."
This is an ambiguous statement.
8(40.0%)
The author clearly means Lord X was a clownish or mocked old man.
7(35.0%)
The author clearly means Lord X was an old petty officer.
0(0.0%)
Other, to be explained in a comment.
5(25.0%)
What is the difference between an old duffer and an old buffer, with respect to human beings? (![]("https://l-stat.livejournal.net/img/userinfo_v8.svg?v=17080?v=411.5")
the_alchemist asked, I'd love to know too.)
Also on the subject of language recently: C wasn't familiar with the phrase "to phone in a performance".
major_clanger assures me it's an Americanism.I'd never encountered "the subject in hand" before, only "the subject at hand"; yet, from online discussions, the former is apparently much more widespread and more multinational than the latter.
