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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Moaning Michael?
Hello (Hi! Bonjour!)
"Who's a moaning Michael, then?" "Who's a bit of a moaning Michael?"
A seeker after truth has been wondering in the French group devoted in French to the study of the English language
about the identity of that Michael.
I've sort of managed to mumble a very fuzzy answer about "moaning minnies" which appeared during WW2, according to the OED, and which referred to a type of mortar used by the Germans, and then to air-raid sirens, and then to a "moaner" , and then I vaguely muttered about the love of the English for alliteration.
Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?
Please?
Isabelle Cecchini
"Who's a moaning Michael, then?" "Who's a bit of a moaning Michael?"
A seeker after truth has been wondering in the French group devoted in French to the study of the English language
about the identity of that Michael.
I've sort of managed to mumble a very fuzzy answer about "moaning minnies" which appeared during WW2, according to the OED, and which referred to a type of mortar used by the Germans, and then to air-raid sirens, and then to a "moaner" , and then I vaguely muttered about the love of the English for alliteration.
Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?
Please?
Isabelle Cecchini
Top answer
[nq:1]Hello (Hi! " A seeker after truth has ... I vaguely muttered about the love of the English for alliteration.
- [nq:1]Hello (Hi!
- " A seeker after truth has ...
- I vaguely muttered about the love of the English for alliteration.
- Who's Michael?
- Why is he moaning?
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28 Answers
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[nq:1]Hello (Hi! Bonjour!) "Who's a moaning Michael, then?" "Who's a bit of a moaning Michael?" A seeker after truth has ... I vaguely muttered about the love of the English for alliteration. Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?[/nq]
I don't know about BrE, but in AmE, someone who "moans and groans" or "******* and moans" is a complainer, so I imagine that a moaning Michael is t
I don't know about BrE, but in AmE, someone who "moans and groans" or "******* and moans" is a complainer, so I imagine that a moaning Michael is t
00
[nq:1]Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?[/nq]
Perhaps he's unhappy at having been extracted.
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
Perhaps he's unhappy at having been extracted.
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
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[nq:2]Hello (Hi! Bonjour!) "Who's a moaning Michael, then?" "Who's a ... alliteration. Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know about BrE, but in AmE, someone who "moans and groans" or "******* and moans" is a complainer, so I imagine that a moaning Michael is too. I imagine that a moaning Michael is an alliterative cousin of Jumping Jack and Joe Schmoe.[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know about BrE, but in AmE, someone who "moans and groans" or "******* and moans" is a complainer, so I imagine that a moaning Michael is too. I imagine that a moaning Michael is an alliterative cousin of Jumping Jack and Joe Schmoe.[/nq]
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[nq:2]I don't know about BrE, but in AmE, someone who ... is an alliterative cousin of Jumping Jack and Joe Schmoe.[/nq]
[nq:1]Moaning Michael is not a specific individual. We just like alliterating adjectives with given names. Fat Freddie, Batty Beatrice, Whinging William.[/nq]
Crossthreading for a sec, shouldn't Spike, rather than Herbert, be the spotty one?
Ross Howard
[nq:1]Moaning Michael is not a specific individual. We just like alliterating adjectives with given names. Fat Freddie, Batty Beatrice, Whinging William.[/nq]
Crossthreading for a sec, shouldn't Spike, rather than Herbert, be the spotty one?
Ross Howard
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[nq:2]Moaning Michael is not a specific individual. We just like alliterating adjectives with given names. Fat Freddie, Batty Beatrice, Whinging William.[/nq]
[nq:1]Crossthreading for a sec, shouldn't Spike, rather than Herbert, be the spotty one?[/nq]
If you are relying on alliteration, then I suppose so. But "Herbert" stands alone, meaning something like "unappealing person". So spotty H
[nq:1]Crossthreading for a sec, shouldn't Spike, rather than Herbert, be the spotty one?[/nq]
If you are relying on alliteration, then I suppose so. But "Herbert" stands alone, meaning something like "unappealing person". So spotty H
00
[nq:1]"Who's a moaning Michael, then?" "Who's a bit of a moaning Michael?" Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?[/nq]
I just thought that Michael was a PC replacement for Minnie. So that a woman would be called a "Moaning Minnie" while a man could be called a "Moaning Michael."
I just thought that Michael was a PC replacement for Minnie. So that a woman would be called a "Moaning Minnie" while a man could be called a "Moaning Michael."
00
[nq:2]"Who's a moaning Michael, then?" "Who's a bit of a moaning Michael?" Who's Michael? Why is he moaning? Does anyone know?[/nq]
[nq:1]I just thought that Michael was a PC replacement for Minnie. So that a woman would be called a "Moaning Minnie" while a man could be called a "Moaning Michael."[/nq]
Right. So who is Minnie?
David
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replace usenet with the
[nq:1]I just thought that Michael was a PC replacement for Minnie. So that a woman would be called a "Moaning Minnie" while a man could be called a "Moaning Michael."[/nq]
Right. So who is Minnie?
David
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replace usenet with the
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[nq:2]I just thought that Michael was a PC replacement for ... Minnie" while a man could be called a "Moaning Michael."[/nq]
[nq:1]Right. So who is Minnie?[/nq]
Maybe just someone burdened with an alliterative name that starts with "M"?
Cheers, Harvey
Canada for 30 years; S England since 1982.
(for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
[nq:1]Right. So who is Minnie?[/nq]
Maybe just someone burdened with an alliterative name that starts with "M"?
Cheers, Harvey
Canada for 30 years; S England since 1982.
(for e-mail, change harvey.news to harvey.van)
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[nq:1]On 09 Jun 2005, the Omrud wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]Right. So who is Minnie?[/nq]
[nq:1]Maybe just someone burdened with an alliterative name that starts with "M"?[/nq]
Right. Completely different from Michael, then?
David
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replace usenet with the
[nq:2]Right. So who is Minnie?[/nq]
[nq:1]Maybe just someone burdened with an alliterative name that starts with "M"?[/nq]
Right. Completely different from Michael, then?
David
==
replace usenet with the
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[nq:2]On 09 Jun 2005, the Omrud wrote Maybe just someone burdened with an alliterative name that starts with "M"?[/nq]
[nq:1]Right. Completely different from Michael, then?[/nq]
Not entirely; probably his sister.
("Mr Michael and & Miss Minnie Moaning will be at home on Sunday from 2 to 4, whingeing.")
Cheers, Harvey
Canada for 30 years; S England since 1982.
(for e-ma
[nq:1]Right. Completely different from Michael, then?[/nq]
Not entirely; probably his sister.
("Mr Michael and & Miss Minnie Moaning will be at home on Sunday from 2 to 4, whingeing.")
Cheers, Harvey
Canada for 30 years; S England since 1982.
(for e-ma
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