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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009Yet another euphemism
Seen in the Guardian today: [quote] David Cameron was last night considering removing the Conservative whip from some of the most senior party backbenchers in the wake of allegations that they have abused the MPs' expenses system to build swimming pools, improve their second homes, and _even buy horse manure at the expense of the taxpayer_. [endquote] Surely the last item is a legitimate expense during times when one is so much under stress that one cannot produce enough of one's own.  SignatureLes (BrE) > Seen in the Guardian today: > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > so > much under stress that one cannot produce enough of one's own. <chuckle> SignatureMaria Conlon >Leslie Danks wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > ><chuckle> David Cameron represents the next constituency north of me, and it probably has as many horses. Round here, horse manure is free. Just turn up with a trailer and shovel. I wouldn't be surprised if some stables moved into an equestrian output economy based on paying gardeners to take it away. Their yards are reminiscent of EU agricultural surplus mountains. Cameron probably sees actually _buying_ horse manure as an unforgivably profligate waste of taxpayers' funds. SignaturePaul >> Leslie Danks wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > mountains. Cameron probably sees actually _buying_ horse manure as an > unforgivably profligate waste of taxpayers' funds. Or of a nouveau-riche. <whispers> He had to buy horse manure. SignatureDavid in a Hilton [...] > Cameron probably sees actually _buying_ horse manure as an > unforgivably profligate waste of taxpayers' funds. What is more outrageous? To spend taxpayers' money on horse manure, or on champagne and caviar? >On May 12, 3:020 > >[...] [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >What is more outrageous? >To spend taxpayers' money on horse manure, or on champagne and caviar? I like riddles, but you've got me with that one. What's the answer? SignaturePaul >[...] > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >What is more outrageous? >To spend taxpayers' money on horse manure, or on champagne and caviar? How nutritious is horse manure? SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>[...] >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >How nutritious is horse manure? Some say it's very good on rhubarb. Personally, I prefer custard on mine. SignatureIan > > Leslie Danks wrote: > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > agricultural surplus mountains. Cameron probably sees actually buying > horse manure as an unforgivably profligate waste of taxpayers' funds. 600 quid to prune the Wisteria? I wonder if he needs the lawn mowing some time. DC -- >> > Leslie Danks wrote: >> > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] >600 quid to prune the Wisteria? I wonder if he needs the lawn mowing >some time. If he does, the latest thing is to keep wallabies (at least two, because they get lonely). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6261351.ece "Trends in lawn-mowing are moving ahead in leaps and bounds as more gardeners turn to home-bred wallabies to keep their paddocks in trim. . . . "The wallabies cost £150 for a male and £600 to £700 for a female, while the sought-after albino wallabies fetch £1,000 for a female and about £500 for a male. They are sold in pairs because wallabies like living in a social group." SignatureRobin (BrE) Herts, England > Seen in the Guardian today: > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Surely the last item is a legitimate expense during times when one is so > much under stress that one cannot produce enough of one's own. I thought they had a limitless supply. How does one remove the whip from a backbencher, by the way? It sounds like, if anything, a reward. -- Jerry Friedman [...] > How does one remove the whip from a backbencher, by the way? It > sounds like, if anything, a reward. It probably depends. I think you have to go to the right sort of school to learn about stuff like that. SignatureLes (BrE) >[...] > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >It probably depends. I think you have to go to the right sort of school to >learn about stuff like that. Its effect is a bit like sending them to Coventry, isn't it? SignatureRobin (BrE) Herts, England >> Seen in the Guardian today: >> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >How does one remove the whip from a backbencher, by the way? It >sounds like, if anything, a reward. It does, doesn't it? It is a sort of excommunication from the political party to which the individual belongs. The person is still a member of his or her party as a whole but ceases to be treated as such in Parliament. This sounds like wonderful freedom, but is not as good as it sounds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_whip SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) On May 12, 2:44 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net> wrote: > On Tue, 12 May 2009 12:50:54 -0700 (PDT), Jerry Friedman > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_whip Ah. I could have done that myself, but I thought I knew what "whip" meant. -- Jerry Friedman > Ah. I could have done that myself, but I thought I knew what "whip" > meant. I just want to know why the word 'moat' hasn't popped up in this thread yet. cheers, Stephanie in Brussels but thoroughly enjoying the reporting on this |
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