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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
English in UK

Hoi polloi

It must be the pronunciation and sound of 'hoi polloi' that makes one directly thinks its meaning is 'upper class' or 'high society'. I know it really means 'the common people' but I find it too easy to muddle these in speech and get the definition wrong. Just an observation, really.
  

Top answer

Emily typed thus: [nq:1]It must be the pronunciation and sound of 'hoi polloi' that makes one directly thinks its meaning is 'upper class' ... I find it too easy to muddle these in speech and get the definition wrong. [/nq] A non-classical education in Gilbert and Sullivan gives one a framework: Our lordly style You shall not quench With base canaille!

  • Emily typed thus: [nq:1]It must be the pronunciation and sound of 'hoi polloi' that makes one directly thinks its meaning is 'upper class' ...
  • I find it too easy to muddle these in speech and get the definition wrong.
  • [/nq] A non-classical education in Gilbert and Sullivan gives one a framework: Our lordly style You shall not quench With base canaille!
  • ) Distinction ebbs Before a herd Of vulgar plebs!
  • ) 'Twould fill with joy, And madness stark The hoi polloi!
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8 Answers
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Emily typed thus:
[nq:1]It must be the pronunciation and sound of 'hoi polloi' that makes one directly thinks its meaning is 'upper class' ... I find it too easy to muddle these in speech and get the definition wrong. Just an observation, really.[/nq]
A non-classical education in Gilbert and Sullivan gives one a framework:
Our lordly style
You shall not quench
With base canaill
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On Tuesday, in article

[nq:1]'Twould fill with joy, And madness stark The hoi polloi![/nq]
I hadn't before realized that Gilbert would have been so crass as to use the definite article along with "hoi polloi"; still, I suppose it wouldn't have scanned without it!

fix (vb.): 1. to paper over, obscure, hide from public view; 2. to work around, in a way that produces unintended
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Brian {Hamilton Kelly} typed thus:
[nq:2]'Twould fill with joy, And madness stark The hoi polloi![/nq]
[nq:1]I hadn't before realized that Gilbert would have been so crass as to use the definite article along with "hoi polloi"; still, I suppose it wouldn't have scanned without it![/nq]
Gilbert? Crass? Wash your mouth out!
There was an old man of St. Bees
Who was stung on the ar
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[nq:1]Brian {Hamilton Kelly} typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]I hadn't before realized that Gilbert would have been so ... "hoi polloi"; still, I supposeit wouldn't have scanned without it![/nq]
[nq:1]Gilbert? Crass? Wash your mouth out! There was an old man of St. Bees Who was stung on the arm by a wasp, When asked "Does it hurt?" He replied "No, it doesn't; I'm so glad it wasn't a hornet."[/nq]
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Matti Lamprhey typed thus:

I've never seen that version. I was taught the one I quoted by my Dad, about 40 years ago.

David
==
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[nq:1]Matti Lamprhey typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]Is that the canonical version? The last line has gone ... bit It can do it again if it likes."[/nq]
[nq:1]I've never seen that version. I was taught the one I quoted by my Dad, about 40 years ago.[/nq]
Matti's is very similar to the version I learned as a child.

There was an old man of Dundee
Who was stung on the leg by a wasp;
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[nq:1]Matti Lamprhey typed thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]it Is that the canonical version? The last line has ... bit It can do it again if it likes."[/nq]
[nq:1]I've never seen that version. I was taught the one I quoted by my Dad, about 40 years ago.[/nq]
There once was a man from Dunoon
Who always ate soup with a fork
For, he said, "Since I eat neither flesh, foul nor fish I'd otherwise f
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[nq:2]Matti Lamprhey typed thus: I've never seen that version. I was taught the one I quoted by my Dad, about 40 years ago.[/nq]
[nq:1]Matti's is very similar to the version I learned as a child. There was an old man of Dundee Who ... When asked if it hurt He said "No, not a bit It can do it again if it likes."[/nq]
Not heard of those; learnt this at an early age:
There was faith heale

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