Stephen King book, need help.

Question

Could somebody help me translate that:1. -You are a realist.    - I don't really think I am, but I know a hawk from a handsaw.2. I could not write books, but that didn't mean I had to pick scabs.3.Upstairs the telephone started ringing....I snagged the cordless. Hello?4.It was not front-page stuff, no blood or celebrity morgue shots, but as a page nine shouter it would do nicely.Thanks!

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

1. I know one or two things. At least enough to distinguish a hawk from a handsaw.
2. Not clear. Must see more context. Didn't want to work with strikebreakers?
3. Fished/snatched the cordless? Perhaps he temporarily stole it from someone (snag also means "take/pilfer").

Nef · Answer

1. -You are a realist.
- I don't really think I am, but I know a hawk from a handsaw.

I know when things are very different from one another. I can see what's right in front of me. I can see the obvious. I'm not dumb or completely inexperienced..

2. I could not write books, but that didn't mean I had to pick scabs.

I'd like more context here. (guessing) Write about things that hurt people. Ask parents something like "And how did you feel after your child disappeared?"

3.Upstairs the telephone started ringing....I snagged the cordless. Hello?

grabbed the cordless telephone; quickly picked up the cordless telephone

4.It was not front-page stuff, no blood or celebrity morgue shots, but as a page nine shouter it would do nicely.

It (something written for newspaper) probably would get a place on page 9 and a large headline. It wasn't dramatic or sensational enough for the front page.

YoungCalifornian · Answer

I thought I'd add that the "hawk from a handsaw" bit is an allusion to Hamlet.

Beep_beep · Answer

Many thanks!!!

Regarding context of 2:

"I could not write books, but that didn't mean I had to pick scabs." -
Said by hero after his hesitation to take part in dangerous court hearing to defence young lady.
Hero is ready to fight now.
Said also in very sad situation when hero has lost his ability to write books and this fact physiologically very unpleasant to him.

Nef · Answer

I'm still not sure.

One meaning of "to pick scabs" (in addition to the meaning that MH mentioned) is to reopen wounds, to disturb sores that are in the process of healing. The wounds or sores can be literal or figurative.

Aperisic · Answer

Beep_beepRegarding context of 2:

"I could not write books, but that didn't mean I had to pick scabs." -
Said by hero after his hesitation to take part in dangerous court hearing to defence young lady.
Hero is ready to fight now.
Said also in very sad situation when hero has lost his ability to write books and this fact physiologically very unpleasant to him.

'to pick scabs' in this case I think is just given figuratively, since this idiom I have in mind is known all around the world. I mean you can't say it is an English phrase.

It means: I wasn't in such pain and agony (as for example Job from the Bible who had even scabs after he lost everything) because of the situation.

Very concrete it, almost sure, means: "I did not lose everything because I couldn't write books" or "The situation wasn't that bad."

Nona the brit · Answer

I'd agree with Nef's interpretation. He doesn't want to re-examine emotionally painful things (such as losing his abilility to write).

CalifJim · Answer

This may surprise you, but I believe pick scabs is to be taken literally -- up to a point. At least I don't see that it has to have the particular metaphoric content proposed earlier in this thread regarding reopening emotional wounds.

I think it's a reference to what some people do when they have withdrawn from the world, when they no longer feel a social connection to anyone. Provided they have any scabs on their bodies to pick at, that's what they do. (It's actually reminiscent of parrot behavior: When neglected and alone, they pull out their own feathers.)

So I think the sentence as a whole says,

Even if I may have failed at one thing (writing books), it doesn't mean that I have to disengage from the world completely and do nothing to improve the situation (but pick at my scabs).

Just my two cents.

CJ

Likeguslee · Answer

Scab is a strike breaker, a worker who crosses a picket line.

To pick scabs => to choose to work as a strike breaker.

I could not write books, but that didn't mean I had to pick scabs

The author wants to say that even if he cannot write books => he is unemployed (as a writer) he would never even think of working as a scab. He would not want to be employed at the expense of others (striking union workers)

Nona the brit · Answer

Yes, scab CAN be a slang word for a strike breaker, but I don't think it is the meaning intended here as

a) the other meaning fits the context more appropriately

b) you don't 'pick' scabs in the striking sense (the verb related to picket line is 'picket' not 'pick'. They picketed the factory. The scabs themselves do the picketing, they are not picketed).

Stephen King book, need help.

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