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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" mean?
What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" mean? >What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" >mean? First things first. Do you know what shoelaces are?  SignaturePaul >>What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" >>mean? > >First things first. Do you know what shoelaces are? Go back one. One wonders if "shoe" is an understood word. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:34:08 +0000, Paul Wolff ><bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Go back one. One wonders if "shoe" is an understood word. Good thinking. It is important to start off on the right foot. SignaturePaul >>On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:34:08 +0000, Paul Wolff >><bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> > Good thinking. It is important to start off on the right foot. When tying shoelaces, I always start off on the left foot. Then I switch to the right foot, that is left. SignatureLes (BrE) >>>On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:34:08 +0000, Paul Wolff >>><bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > When tying shoelaces, I always start off on the left foot. Then I > switch to the right foot, that is left. That's right. On 18 Jan 2009, Paul Wolff wrote >> On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:34:08 +0000, Paul Wolff >> <bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> > Good thinking. It is important to start off on the right foot. This thread will never last. SignatureCheers, Harvey CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed HVS filted: >On 18 Jan 2009, Paul Wolff wrote > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >This thread will never last. Because it's a lot of cobblers....r Signature"You got Schadenfreude on my Weltanschauung!" "You got Weltanschauung in my Schadenfreude!" > HVS filted: >> Paul Wolff wrote >>>> Paul Wolff wrote: >>>>>> What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is >>>>>> untied" mean? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Because it's a lot of cobblers....r You're not the sole poster who thinks that. SignatureSkitt (AmE) [...] > Good thinking. It is important to start off on the right foot. What if his right foot was amputated? Signature~~~ Reinhold [Rey] Aman ~~~ >Paul Wolff wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >What if his right foot was amputated? Then he goes widdershins. SignaturePaul >>On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:34:08 +0000, Paul Wolff >><bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> >Good thinking. It is important to start off on the right foot. You give them an inch and they take a foot, then you don't have a leg to stand on. SignatureRichard Bollard Canberra Australia To email, I'm at AMT not spAMT. >>> What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" >>> mean? >> First things first. Do you know what shoelaces are? > > Go back one. One wonders if "shoe" is an understood word. I wouldn't take out insurance on it; they might not be playing with a full deck. SignatureLew > What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" > mean? It's difficult to understand why you would need help with this if you know the various words. You need to check your dictionary for "shoe" "lace" and "tied". "untied" is the opposite of "tied". Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? SignatureDavid >> What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" >> mean? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? The non-literal meaning that came to mind immediately was a euphemism for "Your fly is undone". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>> What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" >>> mean? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > The non-literal meaning that came to mind immediately was a euphemism for > "Your fly is undone". Really? I never heard that. SignatureDavid >> On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:47:27 GMT, the Omrud >> <usenet.omrud@gEXPUNGEmail.com> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Really? I never heard that. I haven't, and I don't think Peter has either. I think he meant that if he were told that it had some other meaning, that is the meaning he would guess was intended. Regards Jonathan >>> On Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:47:27 GMT, the Omrud >>> <usenet.omrud@gEXPUNGEmail.com> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >were told that it had some other meaning, that is the meaning he would guess >was intended. You are right. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) > Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? Yes I'm asking for a non-literal meaning. I thought it was already clear by itself. >> Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? > > Yes I'm asking for a non-literal meaning. I thought it was already clear > by itself. uri, nothing is ever clear from your questions as you /never/ provide any context, even after being asked many time to do so. You are getting very close to my kill-file. >> Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? > > Yes I'm asking for a non-literal meaning. I thought it was already > clear by itself. And how were we supposed to know that? It has no figurative meaning that I'm aware of. If you gave us a little context, and explained that you already knew the literal meaning, you would save us from wasting our time by trying to answer what appears to be a question from a novice English speaker. SignatureDavid [about "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied"] > > Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? > > Yes I'm asking for a non-literal meaning. I thought it was already > clear by itself. For "Your shoelaces are untied," best I can think of is what a Google search turns up immediately -- a childish April Fool's prank. You tell someone "Your shoelace is untied!" and when they stop to look, you say "April Fool"! Some people get a kick out of simply getting someone else to do something. It's along the same power-trip lines as suddenly pretending to hit someone and then saying "You flinched!" or "Flinch!" Well, duh. For "untied shoelaces," as the others say, we'd need context. It could be a thing to worry about, or a sign of carelessness... SignatureBest wishes -- Donna Richoux > What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" > mean? Who does yours up for you in the morning? Does that person have a dictionary they could show you how to use? > What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" mean? On Jan 18, 6:47 pm, the Omrud <usenet.om...@gEXPUNGEmail.com> wrote: > Or are you asking about a non-literal meaning? "uri" <darkmatter34@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:c383697a-cb47-4ddb-a549-10eb788fd6a6@k1g2000prb.googlegroups.com... > Yes I'm asking for a non-literal meaning. I thought it was already > clear by itself. Obviously not, and the OP was only 12 words (as above, in full.) The whole point of using code phrases for special purposes (e.g. "stars in the east" is military slang for "your fly is unfastened") is that the meaning is so non-obvious that only initiates will understand it aright. SignatureDon Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) > What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" > mean? I am under the impression that it means you have been tricked about something, or you've been caught napping but with the nuance that someone has helped you to be at whatever disadvantage you find yourself to be in. Someone has put something over on you if your "shoelace is untied" and you are about to trip and fall on your face. >> What does the phrase "untied shoelaces" or "your shoelace is untied" >> mean? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Someone has put something over on you if your "shoelace is untied" and you >are about to trip and fall on your face. The trick often arises from saying "Your shoelace is untied" when, in fact, it isn't. The victim looks down to check as someone screams "April Fools!", for kids sometimes play the trick on April Fool's Day. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland |
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