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

The MS dictionary says trice is a very short period of time, and hauling something up.

Of course, if you add a postscript, we're talking muscles.

Thanks for the words. Was lost with the smiley creatures!

No one has mentioned the other meaning of "hackneyed" as in "frequently used", "unoriginal" - er ... that is what it means, isn't it?

In Dublin, Taxis are the ones with a sign on the roof, that you can hail, while Hackneys must be prebooked by phone, as they are not allowed to stop for hailers. They are also not allowed to carry a sign, but they get around this law by sporting a small badge above the registration plate.

Cheeky young whippersnapper, W.Star,
I am having trouble with my short term memory, though. That young Princess Victoria seems a likely lass.
Someone mentioned "omnibus" but none has commented thereon. I remember when the Romans introduced them there was to be no segregation so they gave them that name = "for all".
Say what you like about the Romans, but they built nice straight roads and the "for alls" ran on time.

Please, please take a look at posting 163 in:
http://www.h2g2.com/F19585&thread=86212&skip=160&show=20

Brightened my evening.

Dear TC
Yes we did. About 14 hours ago. Or are you being post-modern and recursive, thus providing an example of the word "hackneyed"?
Dear Gnomom
As you have mentioned before, the Irish aren't British, but since they were officially at the time taxis arrived, why did they get it back to front? Was this early subversion?
Dear Plaguesville
When I was at school (another pause for tomatoes)we were told that the Scots spoke better English than the English and the Irish wrote better English than anyone. Lifelong inferiority complex

As herself and Ric found out live at lansdowne yesterday, the Irish alos play a better game of football than either the Scots or English. They do not, however, understand the concept of streaking....there were two "streakers" at the game, and neither removed their boxers or socks. It was pointed out to me that this is an Irishman's idea of what being naked is ....

Anyway this has nothing to do with the topic...sorry

Why do so many men insist on keeping their socks on when they are otherwise butt naked?

Is it something masonic?

No idea. Women ought to do it really, they're usually the ones with the cold feet.

I had better get on with this index now as a punishment for not paying attention when hackney was mentioned.

Having socks on prevents cold feet, something a lot of men get (hides behind riot shield).
Is 'socks on' similar useage to 'later on' ?

Thinks: isn't butt naked having virtually everything else on except the boxers ?

In the buff (synonym for butt naked)any ideas for derivation?

I hope this removal of clothing is not compulsory, at least not for Englishmen (The celtic fringes have long been known for their lack of a proper shame in this regard - woad being an old Scottish fals tanning compound that went sadly wrong, as exemplified by that nice Mr Gibson chappie)

I was once told, and have religiously obeyed the instruction ever since, that it is possible to identify a true Englishman by the way he deals with Oxford Street. An Englishman never walks along Oxford Street, only across it. A maxim that applies particularly at this time of year.

Re this info from yesterday ...
"Pooch comes from pooh (as in pooh bear). It means indeterminate species, type or flavour. Pooch is the canine equivalent, hence the additional letter 'c'. It isn't cpooh, pcooh, pocoh or poohc, as they are all too hard to say.
Hack has a similar history, having originally been ack. This means 'without cart'. The Equine equivalent has a leading 'h'. The 'h' appears at the front as it is well know that the cart never leads the horse."

I've since discovered 'pack' - it starts with 'p' for person and refers to something a person will carry when they are without a cart.

Little wurdles, little wurdles, little wurdles, little wurdles ...

Does Nikki-D take the biscuit for being the barkingest on this thread?

Absolutely WS, I fear she has taken a turn for the worse.

Why the worse? I'm still smiling from her posting. And we're all a bit mad, aren't we.

And, Pheroneous, I notice you let 'barkingest' thru your anti-canine defences - tut, tut, you must be slipping.

Could 'in the buff' have resulted from a misreadfing of the word 'butt'?

Thanks for the concern, but I'd go insane if I was normal !

I had the impression that butt came from buttocks. Buff would only work with a mouth full of crisps/potato chips.