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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Exact meaning for "sunny boy"
Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the expression "hey! sunny boy!". We know they never met before (so they're not friends, nor relatives, nothing). Also, we know the woman is happy and very kind and friendly, so she's not implying a second meaning nor a sarcasm with her expression.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for example, "hey! sir!" ? Would it be possible to change it with another expression without losing any bit of meaning/flavour?
Btw, do you know of some English dictionary where you can find answers to questions like this? I usually understand most of the English language, but there're some constructs that require some contextual experience which I lack.
What would be the accurate meaning for "sunny boy" there? Can you guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for example, "hey! sir!" ? Would it be possible to change it with another expression without losing any bit of meaning/flavour?
Btw, do you know of some English dictionary where you can find answers to questions like this? I usually understand most of the English language, but there're some constructs that require some contextual experience which I lack.
Top answer
[nq:1]Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the expression "hey! ". We ...
- [nq:1]Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the expression "hey!
- ".
- We ...
- [/nq] Don't you mean "sonny boy"?
- Alec McKenzie
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28 Answers
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[nq:1]Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the expression "hey! sunny boy!". We ... I usually understand most of the English language, but there're some constructs that require some contextual experience which I lack.[/nq]
Don't you mean "sonny boy"?
Alec McKenzie
Don't you mean "sonny boy"?
Alec McKenzie
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[nq:1]Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman calling a man by the expression "hey! sunny boy!". We ... boy" there? Can you guess some reason for her calling him that way instead of, for example, "hey! sir!" ?[/nq]
Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most
famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world in the 1930s because of his recordings and films,
one of which in
Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most
famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world in the 1930s because of his recordings and films,
one of which in
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[nq:2]Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman ... some constructs that require some contextual experience which I lack.[/nq]
[nq:1]Don't you mean "sonny boy"?[/nq]
Or "sunny jim"?
John Dean
Oxford
[nq:1]Don't you mean "sonny boy"?[/nq]
Or "sunny jim"?
John Dean
Oxford
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[nq:2]Don't you mean "sonny boy"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Or "sunny jim"?[/nq]
Over the fence leaps Sunny Jim:
Force is the food which raises him!
Mike.
[nq:1]Or "sunny jim"?[/nq]
Over the fence leaps Sunny Jim:
Force is the food which raises him!
Mike.
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[nq:2]Let's suppose we're in 1940, and we see a woman ... him that way instead of, for example, "hey! sir!" ?[/nq]
[nq:1]Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world in the 1930s because of his recordings and films, one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.[/nq]
Surely it w
[nq:1]Vaudeville singer Al Jolson was one of the most famous entertainers in the (English-speaking) world in the 1930s because of his recordings and films, one of which included the sentimental song "Sonny Boy." This is the likeliest origin of the catchphrase.[/nq]
Surely it w
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[nq:1]Surely it was the other way around. "Sonny boy" is probably a very old expression.[/nq]
Merriam-Webster dates "sonny" to 1838. Meaning, "a young boy usually used in address." No record for "sonny boy."
The DigiTrad folk music collection has one hit for "sonny boy" in lyrics, in an Irish emigration song called "Goodbye Mick":
Now won't I come that Yankee chat, I guess I'm cel
Merriam-Webster dates "sonny" to 1838. Meaning, "a young boy usually used in address." No record for "sonny boy."
The DigiTrad folk music collection has one hit for "sonny boy" in lyrics, in an Irish emigration song called "Goodbye Mick":
Now won't I come that Yankee chat, I guess I'm cel
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[nq:2]Or "sunny jim"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Over the fence leaps Sunny Jim: Force is the food which raises him![/nq]
Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on a hermit plan.
He'd never stop for a friendly smile,
But trudged along in his moody style.
Till 'Force' one day was served to him.
Since then they call him Sunny Jim.
John Dean
Oxford
[nq:1]Over the fence leaps Sunny Jim: Force is the food which raises him![/nq]
Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man,
Who lived his life on a hermit plan.
He'd never stop for a friendly smile,
But trudged along in his moody style.
Till 'Force' one day was served to him.
Since then they call him Sunny Jim.
John Dean
Oxford
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[nq:1]Merriam-Webster dates "sonny" to 1838. Meaning, "a young boy usually used in address." No record for "sonny boy." The ... that Yankee chat, I guess I'm celebrating Come liquor up ole sonny Boy, while an old friend I am treating[/nq]
And, of course, the old Iraqi folk ballad 'Sunni Jim'
John Dean
Oxford
And, of course, the old Iraqi folk ballad 'Sunni Jim'
John Dean
Oxford
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[nq:1]And, of course, the old Iraqi folk ballad 'Sunni Jim'[/nq]
Wasn't that Sunni Djimm?
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Wasn't that Sunni Djimm?
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
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[nq:1]Jim Dumps was a most unfriendly man, Who lived his life on a hermit plan. He'd never stop for a friendly smile, But trudged along in his moody style. Till 'Force' one day was served to him. Since then they call him Sunny Jim.[/nq]
A far better outcome for Jim than for John the Bridge Builder, if you know his story.
Charles Riggs
The accented letter in my email address
sh
A far better outcome for Jim than for John the Bridge Builder, if you know his story.
Charles Riggs
The accented letter in my email address
sh
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