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Mitsuo23 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Meaning of "there were names"

Hi,



I think it is an idiomatic expression but I couldn't find it in my dictionaries. Would you explain the meaning of the underlined part?



If a boy didn't care for barbecued chicken or potato chips, people would accept it as a matter of personal taste, saying, "Oh well, I guess it takes all kinds." You could turn up your nose at the president or Coke or even God, but there were names for boys who didn't like sports.



Thank you,

M
  

Top answer

It isn't an idiom, it's quite literal. They are saying that boys that don't like sports are called bad names by their classmates.

— Vorpar

  • It isn't an idiom, it's quite literal.
  • They are saying that boys that don't like sports are called bad names by their classmates.
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3 Answers
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It isn't an idiom, it's quite literal.

They are saying that boys that don't like sports are called bad names by their classmates.
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Hi

Vorpar is right - it is very nearly literal

Respectfully, I would say it is ellipsis - which may be a kind of idiom

To call someone names is to call them bad names. In English, the "bad" is understood but not said

With best regards, Dave
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OK, thank you people!

M
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