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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Ring up a zero
In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist Willy Loman is 'ringing up a zero', I guess it means something like 'he is a failure'. I'd be grateful, if anyone could verify it or correct me if I'm wrong.
Alfred Epple
Alfred Epple
Top answer
[nq:1]In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist ***** Loman is 'ringing up a zero', I guess it means something like 'he is a failure'. [/nq] I've seen the play but not studied it; however "ring up" often refers to the operation of a cash register or (UK) till - these were equipped with bells to warn that the drawer was being opened, hence "ring". So "ringing up a zero" could be what we used to call a "no sale" - that is, a reason to open the cash drawer without making a sale.
- [nq:1]In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist ***** Loman is 'ringing up a zero', I guess it means something like 'he is a failure'.
- [/nq] I've seen the play but not studied it; however "ring up" often refers to the operation of a cash register or (UK) till - these were equipped with bells to warn that the drawer was being opened, hence "ring".
- So "ringing up a zero" could be what we used to call a "no sale" - that is, a reason to open the cash drawer without making a sale.
- By extension, I guess that this phrase means that ***** has failed to make any sales.
- David == replace usenet with the
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist ***** Loman is 'ringing up a zero', I guess it means something like 'he is a failure'. I'd be grateful, if anyone could verify it or correct me if I'm wrong.[/nq]
I've seen the play but not studied it; however "ring up" often refers to the operation of a cash register or (UK) till - these were equipped with bells to warn that the d
I've seen the play but not studied it; however "ring up" often refers to the operation of a cash register or (UK) till - these were equipped with bells to warn that the d
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[nq:1]In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist ***** Loman is 'ringing up a zero', I guess it means something like 'he is a failure'. I'd be grateful, if anyone could verify it or correct me if I'm wrong.[/nq]
Yup - a failure. He's a salesman but he isn't making sales. The image I get is the kind of mechanical till you found in shops of *****'s time where you pressed down on wh
Yup - a failure. He's a salesman but he isn't making sales. The image I get is the kind of mechanical till you found in shops of *****'s time where you pressed down on wh
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[nq:2]In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist ***** ... anyone could verify it or correct me if I'm wrong.[/nq]
[nq:1]I've seen the play but not studied it; however "ring up" often refers to the operation of a cash register ... without making a sale. By extension, I guess that this phrase means that ***** has failed to make any sales.[/nq]
Thank you very much. I am always
[nq:1]I've seen the play but not studied it; however "ring up" often refers to the operation of a cash register ... without making a sale. By extension, I guess that this phrase means that ***** has failed to make any sales.[/nq]
Thank you very much. I am always
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[nq:2]In Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" the protagonist ***** ... anyone could verify it or correct me if I'm wrong.[/nq]
[nq:1]Yup - a failure. He's a salesman but he isn't making sales. The image I get is the kind of ... the till would make a noise like a kind of bicycle bell. In *****'s case, the keys show "No Sale".[/nq]
Unlike Omrud I did study DOAS, for 'A' level. Funny how th
[nq:1]Yup - a failure. He's a salesman but he isn't making sales. The image I get is the kind of ... the till would make a noise like a kind of bicycle bell. In *****'s case, the keys show "No Sale".[/nq]
Unlike Omrud I did study DOAS, for 'A' level. Funny how th
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