English idioms

Anonymousa) ``Pure scientists were as susceptible to pure corn as lesser beings."
They would get equally drunk on pure corn liquor.
(Are you sure this is an idiom?)

b) ``Take umbrage for your spleen."
. . . . Take offense at your vile

Hello, thanks for the first two. I am not entirely sure whether they are, but this is what I was told from someone translating a very old Cambridge book in science.

As to c) ``High Dudgeon" means ``feeling great resentment at something." So, what is it to ``Spend your Holiday in High Dudgeon" ?

Hi,



I feel these sentences are wrtten to be amusing.

Please tell me the meaning of the following.

a) ``Pure scientists were as susceptible to pure corn as lesser beings."

This is not really very funny, but it seems to be playing with two different meanings of the word 'pure'.

b) ``Take umbrage for your spleen."

'Take umbrage' is

Hello, No, I don't think the author is meaning to be cheeky. These are from a really old Cambridge science book.

I more or less think ``Take umbrage" means to become upset or angered at something, and ``High Dudgeon" is a feeling of great resentment at something. So, I am thinking the responses may be along those lines, and I think the first response is.

Anyway, let me know.

Clive a) ``Pure scientists were as susceptible to pure corn as lesser beings."
This is not really very funny, I thought it was the funniest of the three!

AnonymousHello, No, I don't think the author is meaning to be cheeky.

I agree with Clive. In my opinion (b) and (c) are clearly meant to be humorous sentences, as he describes, though I must admit I do not really understand (a).

Avangi

Clive a) ``Pure scientists were as susceptible to pure corn as lesser beings."

This is not really very funny, I thought it was the funniest of the three!

I asked the translator to photocopy the page, and this is the first time I am reading it. It is from the book The Visible College, concerning the lives of five socialist Cambridge professors.

I see now humour is involved.

Page 24

``Soon the boundaries of their workplaces and homes began to blur rather badly. Not content with discussing physics from nine t

Of course I don't know for sure, but I assume it dates to the great American prohibition of alcoholic beverages. If you've never experienced pure (quality) moonshine, you've missed one of life's finer experiences. But we usually assign the drinking of bathtub gin to lowlifes.

There would have to be some context setting this up. I agree that as it stands it's even more obscure than the

Thanks Avangi. I'm afraid I still don't really get it -- in the sense of understanding why it's suposed to be funny (unlike the other two, which I find mildly amusing). Not to worry. Perhaps I am having a sense of humour failure.