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Nikoo Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary
In our stocking feet
I'm reading a short story by Doctorow, titled "The Writer in the Family". Could you please help me understand what he means by "in our stocking feet" in the following sentence?
"Since my father had failed in all the business enterprises of his life, this was the aspect of the news my grandmother dwelled on, that he had finally had some success. And so it came about that as we mourned him at home in our stocking feet, my grandmother was bragging to her cronies about her son’s new life in the dry air of the desert."
According to my dictionary it means "not wearing any shoes" but I cannot understand why someone wanted to attend a ceremony without their shoes.
Thank you for your help
"Since my father had failed in all the business enterprises of his life, this was the aspect of the news my grandmother dwelled on, that he had finally had some success. And so it came about that as we mourned him at home in our stocking feet, my grandmother was bragging to her cronies about her son’s new life in the dry air of the desert."
According to my dictionary it means "not wearing any shoes" but I cannot understand why someone wanted to attend a ceremony without their shoes.
Thank you for your help
Top answer
Nikoo but I cannot understand why someone wanted to attend a ceremony without their shoes. There was no ceremony: they were at home feeling sad at his loss. However, I don't know why the author mentions stockings.
- Nikoo but I cannot understand why someone wanted to attend a ceremony without their shoes.
- There was no ceremony: they were at home feeling sad at his loss.
- However, I don't know why the author mentions stockings.
- Perhaps it is an ethnic tradition?
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6 Answers
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Nikoobut I cannot understand why someone wanted to attend a ceremony without their shoes.There was no ceremony: they were at home feeling sad at his loss. However, I don't know why the author mentions stockings. Perhaps it is an ethnic tradition?
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Thank you, Mister Micawber.
I did a search and found that according to Shiva customs (week-long mourning period in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaismudaism) mourners "do not wear leather shoes" (Wikipedia).
I did a search and found that according to Shiva customs (week-long mourning period in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaismudaism) mourners "do not wear leather shoes" (Wikipedia).
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'In your stocking feet' is an old-fashioned way of saying 'in your socks, with no shoes on'.
Perhaps it is British English., I don't know.
Clive
Perhaps it is British English., I don't know.
Clive
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Clive'In your stocking feet' is an old-fashioned way of saying 'in your socks, with no shoes on'.Perhaps it is British English., I don't knowAmE, too.
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