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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Sunning, tanning, sunbathing
I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ. 1941.
In the movie, there's a line that goes something like "I saw Arlena sunning herself". This is the first time I've heard "sunning" used for "tanning", which is the word I would have used. I looked it up in a dictionary, and although they do list "to sun" with this meaning, it still sounds terribly strange to me.
I'm not a native Englush-speaker, so maybe that explains it.
Anyway, is "sunning" actually used (instead of "tanning" or "sunbathing"), or was the movie script writer trying to emulate a 1930s version of English? (I skimmed through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)
jouni maho
In the movie, there's a line that goes something like "I saw Arlena sunning herself". This is the first time I've heard "sunning" used for "tanning", which is the word I would have used. I looked it up in a dictionary, and although they do list "to sun" with this meaning, it still sounds terribly strange to me.
I'm not a native Englush-speaker, so maybe that explains it.
Anyway, is "sunning" actually used (instead of "tanning" or "sunbathing"), or was the movie script writer trying to emulate a 1930s version of English? (I skimmed through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)
jouni maho
Top answer
Jouni Filip Maho filted: [nq:1]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ. 1941. In the ...
- Jouni Filip Maho filted: [nq:1]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ.
- 1941.
- In the ...
- trying to emulate a 1930s version of English?
- )[/nq] I can't speak to the British, which would be Ms Christie's venue, but it's certainly in common use here in the US..
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16 Answers
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Jouni Filip Maho filted:
[nq:1]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ. 1941. In the ... trying to emulate a 1930s version of English? (I skimmed through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)[/nq]
I can't speak to the British, which would be Ms Christie's venue, but it's certainly in common use here in the US..
Personally, I woul
[nq:1]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ. 1941. In the ... trying to emulate a 1930s version of English? (I skimmed through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)[/nq]
I can't speak to the British, which would be Ms Christie's venue, but it's certainly in common use here in the US..
Personally, I woul
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[nq:1]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ. 1941. In the ... trying to emulate a 1930s version of English? (I skimmed through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)[/nq]
"Sunning oneself" is quite normal English, but doesn't necessarily mean the same as "sunbathing". Whereas "sunbathing" is an attempt to get/keep a tan, "sunning onesel
"Sunning oneself" is quite normal English, but doesn't necessarily mean the same as "sunbathing". Whereas "sunbathing" is an attempt to get/keep a tan, "sunning onesel
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[nq:2]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), ... through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)[/nq]
[nq:1]"Sunning oneself" is quite normal English, but doesn't necessarily mean the same as "sunbathing". Whereas "sunbathing" is an attempt to ... "tanning". Some old bilingual dictionaries list "having a sunbath" but don't use it unless you want to sound faintly ridiculous.[/n
[nq:1]"Sunning oneself" is quite normal English, but doesn't necessarily mean the same as "sunbathing". Whereas "sunbathing" is an attempt to ... "tanning". Some old bilingual dictionaries list "having a sunbath" but don't use it unless you want to sound faintly ridiculous.[/n
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(sneep)
[nq:1]"Sunning" also applies to animals cats, for instance as "tanning" would be out of the question.[/nq]
I always think of reptiles sunning themselves in the desert, since they're cold-blooded. Of course cats ARE solar powered, and need lots of recharging.
Regards,
John
[nq:1]"Sunning" also applies to animals cats, for instance as "tanning" would be out of the question.[/nq]
I always think of reptiles sunning themselves in the desert, since they're cold-blooded. Of course cats ARE solar powered, and need lots of recharging.
Regards,
John
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Adrian Bailey filted:
[nq:1]Some old bilingual dictionaries list "having a sunbath" but don't use it unless you want to sound faintly ridiculous.[/nq]
I think only nudists still use that expression..r
[nq:1]Some old bilingual dictionaries list "having a sunbath" but don't use it unless you want to sound faintly ridiculous.[/nq]
I think only nudists still use that expression..r
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[nq:1]I just saw the movie "Evil Under the Sun" (1982), based on an Agatha Christie story publ. 1941. In the ... trying to emulate a 1930s version of English? (I skimmed through AC's book, but couldn't find the line in it.)[/nq]
"Sunning" is not the same as "tanning". "Sunning" just means placing oneself in such a manner as to get warmed by the sun.
"Sunning" is not the same as "tanning". "Sunning" just means placing oneself in such a manner as to get warmed by the sun.
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[nq:1]"Sunning oneself" is quite normal English, but doesn't necessarily meanthe same as "sunbathing". Whereas "sunbathing" is an attempt to get/keep atan, "sunning oneself" isn't necessarily much stronger than simply "being inthe sun". ( . . . )[/nq]
Yes, I would agree with this. "Sunning myself" is also used jocularly to describe the general concept of having a pleasant time in a warm climat
Yes, I would agree with this. "Sunning myself" is also used jocularly to describe the general concept of having a pleasant time in a warm climat
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[nq:1]I always think of reptiles sunning themselves in the desert, since they're cold-blooded. Of course cats ARE solar powered, and need lots of recharging.[/nq]
I thought cats were powered by static electricity (at least in the winter).
I thought cats were powered by static electricity (at least in the winter).
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(snip)
Thanks for all the replys.
I assumed "sunning" = "tanning" because that's what the character was doing. (Lying out-stretched on her back on a towel on a sunny beach, in a bathing suit a la 1930.)
jouni maho
Thanks for all the replys.
I assumed "sunning" = "tanning" because that's what the character was doing. (Lying out-stretched on her back on a towel on a sunny beach, in a bathing suit a la 1930.)
jouni maho
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[nq:1]Thanks for all the replys.[/nq]
Replies.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
Replies.
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
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