English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
We say I’ve a field of cattle or some cattle for sale at the cattle market. So no precise number is mentioned. The number is only mentioned prior to "head of "
If I had one bullock for sale at the cattle market I’d never say I’ve cattle for sale as there is only one.
I bet that clears it up
If I had one bullock for sale at the cattle market I’d never say I’ve cattle for sale as there is only one.
I bet that clears it up
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
FWIW, I think the origin of cattle is the same as head ie once upon a time, twenty five cattle = twenty five head. That was presumably in the days when they didn't count much else. Sheep must be another story.
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
OK! 'In Latin' can be short for 'according to modern scientific Latin terminology' - eh?
as in:
William McGonagall wrote:On yonder hill there stands a coo.
If it's nae there, it's awa' noo.
Suppose that this room is a lift. The support breaks and down we go with ever-increasing velocity.
Let us pass the time by performing physical experiments...
--- Arthur Eddington (creator of the Eddington Number).
Let us pass the time by performing physical experiments...
--- Arthur Eddington (creator of the Eddington Number).
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Sheep…I was taught to count the feet and divide by four.
Strangely though whilst you can have a hundred head of sheep, it’s not unheard of, it is rare in practice. Mostly a hundred sheep or up here five score of sheep.
Back to cattle thinking about it the "head of" only seems to go in front of cattle. Once I’d identified those cattle as being heifers then I’d have a 100 heifers.
Strangely though whilst you can have a hundred head of sheep, it’s not unheard of, it is rare in practice. Mostly a hundred sheep or up here five score of sheep.
Back to cattle thinking about it the "head of" only seems to go in front of cattle. Once I’d identified those cattle as being heifers then I’d have a 100 heifers.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life
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- kylecycler
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Loosely related, a herd of zebra is apparently called a dazzle. I only know because five zebras escaped last week from a wildlife sanctuary in Maryland and they're still on the loose...
https://brobible.com/culture/article/ma ... anquilize/
There will now be a discussion as to whether it should be a herd of zebra or zebras...
https://brobible.com/culture/article/ma ... anquilize/
There will now be a discussion as to whether it should be a herd of zebra or zebras...
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
I've never heard that. Is it after Dazzle camouflage? And is its origin in a joke, as in a flange of baboons?kylecycler wrote: ↑14 Sep 2021, 12:55pm Loosely related, a herd of zebra is apparently called a dazzle.
Thanks
Jonathan
- kylecycler
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
I've heard of dazzle painted ships, right enough - that one looks like a zebra but you'll know there were many variations. It's just that 'dazzle' was used in the reports about the escaped zebras, that's all I know.
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Thanks
Jonathan
Jonathan
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Dazzle on the razzle!
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
In another thread there was discussion of -ee and -er endings being used in contradictory ways. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=147587&start=30
I've just thought of another one: retiree. Shouldn't it be retirer? I think the idea is that the person has been retired, the decision having been taken by their employer, and the linguistic form has outlived the employment form.
I've just thought of another one: retiree. Shouldn't it be retirer? I think the idea is that the person has been retired, the decision having been taken by their employer, and the linguistic form has outlived the employment form.
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
You've probably heard of that absurd, but grammatically correct sentence:
It only works if you accept that the word 'buffalo' can be both singular and plural. Weirder even than the 'had had had had' one!Buffalo buffalo, Buffalo buffalo buffalo, buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Suppose that this room is a lift. The support breaks and down we go with ever-increasing velocity.
Let us pass the time by performing physical experiments...
--- Arthur Eddington (creator of the Eddington Number).
Let us pass the time by performing physical experiments...
--- Arthur Eddington (creator of the Eddington Number).
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Interestingly (or not), cattle and capitalism have the same Latin root. As does chattel.
Have we got time for another cuppa?
Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
auto-antonym words or Janus words like "sanction" words that can have two meanings one the opposite of the other.
Little wonder I was confused by English at school.
The one that may affect me from time to time is "clip"
Please clip that cable could mean tidying the cable up or cutting it. Could be a costly misunderstanding.
Little wonder I was confused by English at school.
The one that may affect me from time to time is "clip"
Please clip that cable could mean tidying the cable up or cutting it. Could be a costly misunderstanding.
I am here. Where are you?
- kylecycler
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Re: English Language - what "Does your head in" ??
Like clipless pedals being called clipless when you clip in and out of them (I mean, I know why they're called clipless but it's still a bit wonky!).Cowsham wrote: ↑14 Sep 2021, 4:04pm auto-antonym words or Janus words like "sanction" words that can have two meanings one the opposite of the other.
Little wonder I was confused by English at school.
The one that may affect me from time to time is "clip"
Please clip that cable could mean tidying the cable up or cutting it. Could be a costly misunderstanding.