Meaning?

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Hi,What are the meanings of the following texts?1- "Sustained, " Johnson said, ruling for Yale before Adam had even opened his mouth. "It's argumentative". What is the meaning of "It's argumentative"?2-Her oldest child, the one who'd burned most brightly, was gone. What is the meaning of "burned most brightly"?3-Before Adam could say anything, the two women were snipping at each other.What is the meaning of snipping at each other?4- So scarcely twenty minutes after Camy had taken the stand, Tringali sat down, smoothed his pants and waited, poised to object if he felt Filppu's cross went over the line. What is the meaning of "smoothed his pants " and" Filppu's cross went over the line"/Thanks and sorry for the lengthy question.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Most of your questions center on legal vocabulary, the vocabulary of the courtroom.

Anonymous1- "Sustained, " Johnson said, ruling for Yale before Adam had even opened his mouth. "It's argumentative". What is the meaning of "It's argumentative"?

When witnesses are questioned, the opposing attorney may raise an objection. "I object, Your Honor," he says aloud to the judge.

The judge may then overrule the objection (not allow it), in which case the question can be answered by the witness. Or the judge may sustain the objection (agree with it and allow it), in which case the question must be left unanswered. These actions are accomplished simply by the judge's saying "Overruled!" or "Sustained!"

Sometimes the judge adds the reason why he overruled or sustained an objection. There are a number of standard reasons, all known in great detail by the attorneys and the judge; therefore very few words are needed between them to establish what these reasons are. Being an "argumentative" question is one of these reasons. So the judge is explaining why he sustained the objection when he says "It's argumentative".

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous4- So scarcely twenty minutes after Camy had taken the stand, Tringali sat down, smoothed his pants and waited, poised to object if he felt Filppu's cross went over the line. What is the meaning of "smoothed his pants " and" Filppu's cross went over the line"?

"smoothed his pants" is not an idiom. The literal meanings of the words should tell you the meaning.

Tringali placed his hands on his pants, probably at the level of the upper thigh, pressed them against his leg, and moved them toward the knee with the purpose of removing any wrinkles in the pants.

It's possible we are to take this as a gesture of some nervousness rather than as a sign that he had wrinkled pants.
_______________________

'cross' is an abbreviation for 'cross examination' — another courtroom term.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous2-Her oldest child, the one who'd burned most brightly, was gone. What is the meaning of "burned most brightly"?

The child who shows the most promise of becoming a success is the child who burns most brightly.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous3-Before Adam could say anything, the two women were snipping at each other.What is the meaning of snipping at each other?

'snipping'? Or 'sniping'?

In either case it seems to me that we are to see that the two women did not like each other much. They began to make derogatory comments about each other.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymoussorry for the lengthy question

Yes. You should definitely split this kind of question list into several posts next time you have so many complex questions.

CJ

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