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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
"to dip one's toes in other people's oceans"?
Hello everyone,
my question today is in reference to the song "Heat Dies Down" by Kaiser Chiefs.
Could someone explain to me what exactly they mean by the phrase "to dip one's toes in other people's oceans"? It appears in the first section of the song: "I have no idea how you know/when I dip my toes/in other people's oceans."
It is suggested on the website below (where the entire lyrics can also be found):
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858650122/
that it is a reference to his cheating on his girlfriend. I suppose it can be that within the context of the song (a man singing about a relationship that is going nowhere), but where does the expression come from?
Before coming here to ask you the question, I spent a little time searching on the internet, and the closest I came up with is The Free Dictionary's definition: "dip one's toe (or toes) in: (Informal) to begin doing or try something new or unfamiliar".
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dip+toes
However, this doesn't seem to agree with what's being suggested above--or does it? If so, what are other people's oceans? (By the way, if this is some sort of double entendré...in a less decent way, please excuse me and forget about the question! I'm only asking because I'm curious about the expression.) Is the line left deliberately ambiguous? or am I just missing the whole point?
All your answers/suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated!
my question today is in reference to the song "Heat Dies Down" by Kaiser Chiefs.
Could someone explain to me what exactly they mean by the phrase "to dip one's toes in other people's oceans"? It appears in the first section of the song: "I have no idea how you know/when I dip my toes/in other people's oceans."
It is suggested on the website below (where the entire lyrics can also be found):
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858650122/
that it is a reference to his cheating on his girlfriend. I suppose it can be that within the context of the song (a man singing about a relationship that is going nowhere), but where does the expression come from?
Before coming here to ask you the question, I spent a little time searching on the internet, and the closest I came up with is The Free Dictionary's definition: "dip one's toe (or toes) in: (Informal) to begin doing or try something new or unfamiliar".
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dip+toes
However, this doesn't seem to agree with what's being suggested above--or does it? If so, what are other people's oceans? (By the way, if this is some sort of double entendré...in a less decent way, please excuse me and forget about the question! I'm only asking because I'm curious about the expression.) Is the line left deliberately ambiguous? or am I just missing the whole point?
All your answers/suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated!
Top answer
The Free Dictionary's definition is the appropriate one. I gather from what you tell us about the song that it merely means he tries romantic relations ('dips his toes') with new girls ('oceans') who are other men's girlfriends. There is nothing specifically salacious about the metaphor.
- The Free Dictionary's definition is the appropriate one.
- I gather from what you tell us about the song that it merely means he tries romantic relations ('dips his toes') with new girls ('oceans') who are other men's girlfriends.
- There is nothing specifically salacious about the metaphor.
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2 Answers
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The Free Dictionary's definition is the appropriate one. I gather from what you tell us about the song that it merely means he tries romantic relations ('dips his toes') with new girls ('oceans') who are other men's girlfriends. There is nothing specifically salacious about the metaphor.
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I think the songwriter just made up that idiom, and macawber has the correct definition. I think you're right that the line is deliberately ambiguous, and it could certainly be a double entendre (the teenagers I know would laugh at that line)
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