"Prom"

on 06 Nov 2003:
[nq:1]Help wanted from the American contingent here. In the pub quiz last night, we got the question "The American term ... - what is it an abbreviation for?" We put "promenade", but the answer was given as "promotion". So who's right?[/nq]
This entry from W3NID isn't much help, but it suggests to me that "promenade" is the better answer. "promotion" doesn't make any sense

} Help wanted from the American contingent here. In the pub quiz last night, } we got the question "The American term "prom" (meaning a high school } dance) - what is it an abbreviation for?"
}
} We put "promenade", but the answer was given as "promotion". }
} So who's right?
My trusty old American Heritage Dictionary (I) says that "prom" is short for "promenade".
But it's been

[nq:1]on 06 Nov 2003:[/nq]
[nq:2]Help wanted from the American contingent here. In the pub ... but the answer was given as "promotion". So who's right?[/nq]
[nq:1]This entry from W3NID isn't much help, but it suggests to me that "promenade" is the better answer. "promotion" doesn't make any sense at all to me; people are not "promoted" from senior year in high school, they {graduate/are gr

[nq:2]on 06 Nov 2003: This entry from W3NID isn't much ... "promoted" from senior year in high school, they {graduate/are graduated}.[/nq]
[nq:1]That's exactly what I said. Thanks to everyone who replied - it didn't matter anyway as we won the quiz regardless, but I'll be having a word with the quizmaster next week! :~) Mike M[/nq]
Tell him the might of the OED is on your side - even Limey

on 06 Nov 2003:
[nq:1]Now tell me - why 'home-coming' queen?[/nq]
It's all about when the footbal team comes back from its string of three or four away-from-home games in the middle of the semester.

[nq:1]Now tell me - why 'home-coming' queen?[/nq]
I have only just recovered from Paul Simon and now you give me the Monkees. I am devising dire punishments for you - never forget that I pass by your house daily...

Laura
(emulate St. George for email)

[nq:1]Help wanted from the American contingent here. In the pub quiz last night, we got the question "The American term ... - what is it an abbreviation for?" We put "promenade", but the answer was given as "promotion". So who's right?[/nq]
Tell the Quiz Master that he should, in future, stick closer to home with his questions. "Prom", in this context, is not an abbreviation for anything. It's

[nq:2]Now tell me - why 'home-coming' queen?[/nq]
[nq:1]It's all about when the footbal team comes back from its string of three or four away-from-home games in the middle of the semester.[/nq]
They line up in the locker room and the homecoming queen is the guy who puts on a dress and...
Ahem.
Let's draw a veil over what happens, shall we?

[nq:1]Now tell me - why 'home-coming' queen?[/nq]
Here, it would be "homecoming". A school usually has one weekend a year where graduates of that school are encouraged to come back an visit. Traditionally, that weekend is in the fall. If the school has an athletic program, the weekend usually coincides with a football game played on the home field.
Part of the festivities often include ele

Laura F Spira filted:
[nq:2]Now tell me - why 'home-coming' queen?[/nq]
[nq:1]I have only just recovered from Paul Simon and now you give me the Monkees. I am devising dire punishments for you - never forget that I pass by your house daily...[/nq]
I'll trade you...I got Julie Brown..r