Posted by Peter H on November 12, 2002 at 22:20:27 from 213.122.171.150 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Naming a yacht - continued-duh...huh? posted by Prue Eckett on November 11, 2002 at 19:29:54:
Thanks, everyone for the information. I think we've got 'duh' sorted now. The next question is - would AR have used the word if he was writing now, and when? My suggestion is in PP, Ch 33, when Capn Flint is explaining to Dick that the 'gold' is copper:
'But my dear chap, aqua regia will dissolve almost anything. The point about gold is that it won't dissolve in anything else.'
Dick's face fell. 'Duuh!'
I have to say that I prefer the original, somewhat more elegant self-criticism:
'I've messed it again.'
By the way, I like John Lambert's 'a couple of good, solid, British jabs to the jaw of the offender'. John, you wouldn't like to nip over the Atlantic to the UK and do a little job for the Arthur Ransome Society, would you?