h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I wonder where it comes from in that case?

No idea, maybe the Duden can suggest something

I just had a hunt around for something in French: lots of examples of usage, but no joy with the origins. The closest I came was a website that listed it as an example of an 'Archaïsme'

Which I think I could have worked out for myself

(Look! 'ï' works too!)

Hang on, here's one

http://www.atilf.fr/richlex/articles.htm

(Wind down to 'n'avoir') 17th century, apparently. Lots of interesting variants too ('he didn't invent hot water' is nice )

hanks for that, it's really quite nice, especially to see what other peoples think about the police

Another of the handiest pages on h2g2, and one which you're just about to bookmark... right?:

How to Type Special Character Codes in h2g2 Conversations A978636

Oo - that explains about the Alt key too, I think

é

Yes, it does! It works!

Gawbless six7s! And Kea, his tireless agent

I finally managed to get it to work for the first time

I'm still tossing up between badmøødkea and badmòódkea. What do you think?

One of each?

Well chaps and chapesses, if I want to type an e with an accent on it, I just hold down Alt and Ctrl and then type the e. Like this - é. This seems to do the trick for á é í ó and ú.

Handy little tip, what?

I'm using a laptop, I don't *have* a numpad


Thanks for the further investigation into the origins of the phrase, and the bit about it being in German too, interesting stuff!

I like the 'frowning eyebrows' effect of badmòódkea, looks like the word itself is glaring at you in a bad mood!

What do you need a numpad for?


badmøødkea looks more bleak than grumpy. But it's easier to type

>>Handy little tip, what?<<

Yes, if your computer is smart enough to get that into a conversation thread on here Otherwise it's &=132 etc.

Icky, I'm on a laptop too - there's bound to be some way of turning a numerical keyboard 'on' (I've got 'Fn' keys I need to press, for instance).

Hi B' !
I always thought this expression was the equivalent of the sarcastic "just invented sliced bread" or "discovered lukewarm water" anyone heard of these or do I just have weird linguistics in my family?
probably that, actually
Wilma

ICK!
I just replied to an old post...
sorry all!

Wilma

uld that be an example of 'post 20' syndrome? Don't worry, your contribution still made sense, which is more than can be said for a lot of posts on h2g2!

Hi Ictoan

syndrome, perhaps!!!



Wilma

B'Elana, what's a 'Duden'?

Ictoan, a Duden is the German OED, just not as good But for references how a word is written, it's THE dictionary here. A word which is not in the Duden isn't a word. Sorry for not explaining it right away