Thomas the Tank Engine

Question

Can anybody answer Jim's question?Thanks.[nq:1] Original Message Subject: question for the British Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2005 21:15:37 -0700 From: "Jim &gt; My ... get into Thomas the Tank Engine and we bought the DVD set of the early years with Ringo narrating. Â[/nq]Â°Â¿Â°

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Can anybody answer Jim's question? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:2] Original Message Subject: question for the British Date: ... or if it is peculiar to the Thomas series? Jim[/nq]
I don't think many of us go around complimenting railway engines.

"Really useful", however, is a really useful phrase, particularly when trying to justify spending far too much on the latest labour saving kitchen device which will, within two weeks, disappear into the deepest recesses of the kitchen drawer, not to resurface until next spring.

http://www.dacha.freeuk.com/zodiac/8sco-0.htm
Scorpio (October 24th - November 22nd)
Images, Associations, Qualities, Careers, Health

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Can anybody answer Jim's question? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:2] Original Message Subject: question for the British Date: ... train engine is to say it is "really useful". I'm[/nq]
"really useful" is used in the name of a group of entertainment companies in England:
http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/really/

Peter Duncanson
UK
(posting from u.c.l.e)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]My son Jarod (16 months old) is just starting to ... England or if it is peculiar to the Thomas series?[/nq]
Definitely a peculiarity of the Rev Awdry. The relationship between the engines is largely modelled on the behaviour of boys at a minor prep school: the Fat Controller representing the Head.
Off topic, what is on the smokebox door at the OTHER end of the double ended engines?
Paul Burke

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Can anybody answer Jim's question? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:2] Original Message Subject: question for the British Date: ... train engine is to say it is "really useful". I'm[/nq]
It has spread a bit from there.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group
http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/html/index.htm

Dave F
Howard Flight was right

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Can anybody answer Jim's question? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:1]It has spread a bit from there. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/html/index.htm[/nq]
No. It predates RUG by several decades.
The expression was used in the original TTTE series which were ancient when I started reading them in the early 1960s.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]It has spread a bit from there. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/html/index.htm[/nq]
[nq:1]No. It predates RUG by several decades. The expression was used in the original TTTE series which were ancient when I started reading them in the early 1960s.[/nq]
I think Dave's point was that it now could be found further afield than just TTTE rather than that ALW's RUG group originated it.

Of course, the most really useful thing a steam locomotive did was the
11.29 down to Oakworth that stopped just in time to avoid flatteningMiss Agutter.

Philip Powell
Looking north across the Derwent Valley and Northumberland to The Cheviot

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Can anybody answer Jim's question? Thanks.[/nq]
[nq:2] Original Message Subject: question for the British Date: ... a train engine is to say it is "really useful".[/nq]
I believe this stems from the premise that all the other engines in the Thomas books have pretty well defined roles; Thomas' role is supposed to be minor and anthropomorphized to be 'not as good as' any of them. However, the story lines continually turn to show just how varied and versatile and 'helpful' Thomas can be and thus the conclusion is reached that it is "really useful" i.e. not just an unimportant and minor engine after all.
[nq:2]I'm curious to know if this phrase is commonly used in England or if it is peculiar to the Thomas series?[/nq]
In much the same way that Swiss Army pen-knives and multi-gadget tools may have been initially acquired primarily for one role but excel at many others: they're often held to be "really useful". In the rush hour I might use several really useful short cuts to avoid the queues and lessen my journey time.
Sometimes advertisers extol the virtues of a piece of (imported) tat in order to make a quick profit and hence one sees: "limited offer - this really useful xyz can be yours for only 9.95 inclusive".

paul (C) © 2005 is mine

Thomas the Tank Engine

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions