Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.62.0503172334010.10153@panix3.panix.com>
From: Alan Sondheim <sondheim@panix.com>
To: Cyb <cybermind@listserv.aol.com>,
"WRYTING-L : Writing and Theory across Disciplines" <WRYTING-L@LISTSERV.UTORONTO.CA>
Subject: Two classes of expressions of the antique.
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:34:09 -0500 (EST)
Two classes of expressions of the antique. Neither of these are clear, both fuzzy in fact, quite the thing. Please add! In the first, old or antiquated words found mostly in particular stylized expressions. In the second, phrases denoting antiquated meanings in current context. Both classes, like the words 'outlaw,' 'breakfast,' 'goodbye,' etc. are tokens of past habitus. The boundaries are unclear, quite the things themselves. Read on, add. Old words for the most part no longer used independently of expression: I'm on tenterhooks hoisted by his own petard gave him a good drubbing gaping maw snarf it down two bits stop horsing around eating her curds and whey sat on a tuffet batten down the hatches dressed to the nines who killed cock-robin? Atavistic expressions with ignored literal meaning: a real blood-letting was going a mile a minute she's on the rag fit as a fiddle red-letter day dressed to the hilt it's on my dime she was fleeced button your britches he's hysterical (funny) excuse my dust that and a nickel will get you a cup of coffee pull the wool over his eyes it was electrifying toot your own horn two bits to boot six feet under hustle your bustle vamping it up made quite a flap was really steamed her watch was ticking on the stoke of midnight in the limelight his salad-days nine-day wonder --