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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Short end of the straw
From The Blind Assassin:
It was agreed that whatever had happened with Richard, I must be the wronged party. I'd got the short end of the straw, but as there was no justice and precious little mercy, nothing could be done for me.
How can a straw have a short end? She must mean "Short end of the stick" or "short straw," right? Google finds only 390 hits, most of them having to do with science class experiments where you put a paper clip or the like near one end of the straw. Hits for the metaphorical usage include one from Canada, one from Australia, and one from Dolly Parton.
Margaret Atwood knows how to write, and in her acknowledgements she thanks her assistant, two researchers, four editors, five early readers, and about twenty other people. That's a pretty big entourage for a novelist. Couldn't somebody have caught this? I guess it slipped between the cracks.
It was agreed that whatever had happened with Richard, I must be the wronged party. I'd got the short end of the straw, but as there was no justice and precious little mercy, nothing could be done for me.
How can a straw have a short end? She must mean "Short end of the stick" or "short straw," right? Google finds only 390 hits, most of them having to do with science class experiments where you put a paper clip or the like near one end of the straw. Hits for the metaphorical usage include one from Canada, one from Australia, and one from Dolly Parton.
Margaret Atwood knows how to write, and in her acknowledgements she thanks her assistant, two researchers, four editors, five early readers, and about twenty other people. That's a pretty big entourage for a novelist. Couldn't somebody have caught this? I guess it slipped between the cracks.
Top answer
[nq:1]From The Blind Assassin: It was agreed that whatever had happened with Richard, I must be the wronged party. I'd ... How can a straw have a short end?
- [nq:1]From The Blind Assassin: It was agreed that whatever had happened with Richard, I must be the wronged party.
- I'd ...
- How can a straw have a short end?
- [/nq] So you're suggesting that a stick can have a short end, but a straw can't?
- Why is that, exactly?
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5 Answers
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[nq:1]From The Blind Assassin: It was agreed that whatever had happened with Richard, I must be the wronged party. I'd ... How can a straw have a short end? She must mean "Short end of the stick" or "short straw," right?[/nq]
So you're suggesting that a stick can have a short end, but a straw can't? Why is that, exactly?
Okay, I grant you that she did not state the cliche correctly.
So you're suggesting that a stick can have a short end, but a straw can't? Why is that, exactly?
Okay, I grant you that she did not state the cliche correctly.
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Jess Askin filted:
[nq:1]Hits for the metaphorical usage include one from Canada, one from Australia, and one from Dolly Parton.[/nq]
A scenic delight for the weary tourist..r
[nq:1]Hits for the metaphorical usage include one from Canada, one from Australia, and one from Dolly Parton.[/nq]
A scenic delight for the weary tourist..r
00
[nq:1]Jess Askin filted:[/nq]
[nq:2]Hits for the metaphorical usage include one from Canada, one from Australia, and one from Dolly Parton.[/nq]
[nq:1]A scenic delight for the weary tourist..r[/nq]
Yes. Curvy roads, mountainous terrain, and a soft ride.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
[nq:2]Hits for the metaphorical usage include one from Canada, one from Australia, and one from Dolly Parton.[/nq]
[nq:1]A scenic delight for the weary tourist..r[/nq]
Yes. Curvy roads, mountainous terrain, and a soft ride.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
00
[nq:2]Jess Askin filted: A scenic delight for the weary tourist..r[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes. Curvy roads, mountainous terrain, and a soft ride.[/nq]
There's gold in them thar hills ... as the dentist said when he dropped the crown.
Paul
In bocca al Lupo!
[nq:1]Yes. Curvy roads, mountainous terrain, and a soft ride.[/nq]
There's gold in them thar hills ... as the dentist said when he dropped the crown.
Paul
In bocca al Lupo!
00
[nq:1]There's gold in them thar hills ... as the dentist said when he dropped the crown.[/nq]
LOL.
Can you imagine trying to concentrate and maintain your professionalism with those staring you in the face, at close range? She'd probably wear something low-cut to see a dentist or doctor, just to see if she could get a rise out of them.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
LOL.
Can you imagine trying to concentrate and maintain your professionalism with those staring you in the face, at close range? She'd probably wear something low-cut to see a dentist or doctor, just to see if she could get a rise out of them.
dg (domain=ccwebster)
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