Discussion Groups / English Usage / August 2010

Who is Bic Pen Tameter?

I would like to know the meaning of the expression "vote with their
pocket book." in the following sentence.
Consumers who ***vote with their pocket book*** can turn the tide of
demand.

Would you know the author of this song? Couldn't find it.
----
Lovin' you baby, is just like rollin' off a log,
But if I can't be your woman, I sure ain't goin' to be your dog.

Death of the published dictionary: Oxford English Dictionary to exist solely online
By Paul Sims
Mail Online News
Sunday, August 29, 2010

Hi!  I would like to know the meaning of the expression "a typical
population" in the following passage.
According to a recent issue of Natural History, catch limits for deep-
sea fishes were set “essentially by guessing, relying on knowledge of

I guess this construction:
",  a small, balding man in a banker's suit and a quiet gray tie"
is ambiguous as to whom it refers, isn't it?
It's in fact Ullman who is so.

Is
"failed into becoming"
perfectly natural for you?
----

Now, "land" seems present narrative.
Shouldn't then the continuation be
"you _are_ seventy feet up?"
A hypothetical/backshifted "landed" would IMO be necessary for the

who will say 'thuh' at every opportunity and it JARS cos it's AMERICAN
and she should say,
"'Thuh' cat was put in the wheelie bin by 'thuh' lady after she
stroked it and 'thee' outcry was widespread after 'thuh' clip appeared

I've been researching the work of a 19th century French company, and although
I can read French well enough to cope I've been using the "Translate this
page" function in Bing.  (Feeling lazy.)
A parenthetical note that the company didn't design a certain building --

Driving to work yesterday, I was thinking about articles, and the
difference between "a" and "an".
That reminded me that our possessive adjectives my and thy also (used
to) add -n before a vowel.  They still do in the words of hymns, but

A BBC TV prog this evening had a piece about Lake Rudyard (scene of
Kipling's parents' honeymoon) in which the park ranger, referring to the
place's former golf club, used "the hoi polloi" to mean "the upper
crust".

"Arty," is that "smart," here?
----
[Jack, an alcoholic, promises]
"I don't intend to bring any alcohol up here, and I don't think there

I am female and got puzzled by a written message from a male
acquantaince.
This message was hand written and had the title " For
Firstname.Lastname"

A professor didn't want to be subjected to saying cheese. Which subject?