Ransome expressions, but across the pond...?


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Previous # Next ] [ Start New Thread ] [ TarBoard ]

Posted by Ed Kiser on March 24, 2006 at 18:18:36 from 64.12.116.6 user Kisered.

There are certain word usages found in the writings of Ransome that sometimes lose their meaning when they cross the Pond to these ex-colonies, either becoming meaningless, or taking on a different meaning.

While we here in America may have heard a particular expression, its meaning is still a bit vague. It is not commonly in use as it is not all that well understood.

Consider this one:

ML CH15:
Miss Lee took the paper and gave it to Nancy. "The Taicoon's
plisoner has litten this," she said. "Lead it."

---

The paper was a letter in Captain Flint's handwriting.

To my faithful people of San Francisco:
Greeting! I, your Lord Mayor, lie in chains
cheek by jowl with a vile ape.

["Gibber isn't a vile ape. He's got a tail," Roger murmured
as he read.]
-----
"Cheek by Jowl" - perhaps could be considered a bit poetic. But I would have said "side by side".

Then there is the word, "fro" that seems never to be used by itself, but is always used in a stock phrase: "To and fro." Never: "Fro and to." What ever happened to "to and from" ? Ransome has 85 instances showing this expression, which did make it to America, and is in common usage here.

Then there is the usage of the word, "cheek" - which actually has two meanings, one is referring to a part of the face. A good sailor can feel the wind direction on his cheek. The cheek got cut by a bit of flying glass. Being embarrassed causes the cheek to flush.

But there is that other meaning that is used to state a quality of a person's personality that is a bit frowned upon. Acting "cheeky". Such "cheek". He has such "cheek." Now don't be "cheeky."

That expression is not all that common in usage in America. We have other slang expressions that may display the same meaning, such as "Don't be a smart A--."

Ransome has 16 occurances of the word "cheek" or "cheeky" to have this concept. Roger seems to be the one that seems to have the ability to show that quality of personality, but others obtained that claim to glory as well, so Roger had no monopoly on it. Sometimes to say someone has cheek means they have a certain amount of daring, perhaps foolish endangerment. It could mean to have audacity.

---------- BSCH19.TXT
"Now then," said George. "No cheek."

---------- BSCH29.TXT
"You... and you'll get some more if you start any cheek.

---------- BSCH5.TXT
"What cheek!" said someone else.

---------- GNCH10.TXT
Roger instead of Dick, I'd know he'd been saying something cheeky."

---------- GNCH13.TXT
"Blooming cheek," he heard another whisper. "If it hadn't been for

---------- GNCH21.TXT
"All right. I won't," said Susan. "But Roger is so awfully cheeky

---------- MLCH16.TXT
"Beastly cheeky," said John.

---------- MLCH22.TXT
"What cheek," said Nancy at last.

---------- PPCH11.TXT
"Oh yes, you do," said John. "No secret cheekiness.

---------- SWCH18.TXT
"Beastly cheek. They must have swiped it from Don. They'd

---------- WDCH13.TXT
"But fishMONGERS," said Roger. "Jolly cheek!"

---------- WDCH25.TXT
never have had the cheek to hoist sail on her alone. Surely he

---------- WHCH17.TXT
suddenly up, and the burglar, whoever he was, some cheeky

---------- WHCH22.TXT
"What cheek!" said Peggy.
"Cheek, all the same," said Peggy, "to put up a notice like that.

---------- WHCH5.TXT
timbers," she said. "What cheek. He means us. Well. Come on.


Encountering these somewhat unused, unfamiliar expressions when reading Ransome is part of the thrill of trying to understand by its context, by repetition in a variety of situations. That is the beauty of being exposed to a dialect that from my point of view, is frankly, foreign, and perhaps misunderstood. It can become a very educational experience.

At least, now, I know what a "MIDDEN" is. Being at the top of that is no special glory, even though some Rooster might think so, as he crows, flaps his wings, and struts his stuff.

I have the Tarboard contributors to thank for enhancing my understanding, not only of twelve books, but of another land, another people, another culture, in another time. And that is good. There is alway more to learn.

Ed Kiser, South Florida


Follow Ups:



Post a Followup

Name:
Eel-Mail:

Existing subject (please edit appropriately) :

or is it time to start a New Thread?

Comments:

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

post direct to TarBoard test post first

Before posting it is necessary to be a registered user.


[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ TarBoard ]

Courtesy of Environmental Science, Lancaster

space