S. Worthen (owlfish) wrote,
S. Worthen
owlfish

Old buffer redux

A few clarifications, following up on yesterday's poll.

Poll #1805188
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All. Participants: 20

"Lord X was an old buffer."

View Answers
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? (the_alchemist asked, I'd love to know too.)

View Answers


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.
Tags: language, poll, two sides of one ocean
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  • 17 comments

  • The night of bad jokes

    My sister tells me that telling jokes to earn one's treat for Halloween is a Des Moines thing. People in the DC area don't do it. Really?

  • Tasting chocolate

    One of the highlights of going to the Chocolate Show today was a panel called "Judging the Judges". The award winners of a raft of major chocolate…

  • Theo Randall at the Intercontinental

    For weeks, I'd been looking forward to eating at Dabbous, but they cancelled at the last minute, thanks to a gas leak. We already had childcare, so I…