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Angliholic Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Whoa there, Nellie
Donald jumps from the car and starts off. His father grabs him. "Whoa there, Nellie."
He gives his son instructions. Start with the dentist. One letter to each house. No peeking in the mail slots. Act professional.
Hi,
Does the bolded part in the above mean "Who is there, Nellie?"
By the way, what do you think of when you hear the word "Nellie?" It just appears out of nowhere in the novel "Loser" without any reference in the previous and following contexts. Thanks.
He gives his son instructions. Start with the dentist. One letter to each house. No peeking in the mail slots. Act professional.
Hi,
Does the bolded part in the above mean "Who is there, Nellie?"
By the way, what do you think of when you hear the word "Nellie?" It just appears out of nowhere in the novel "Loser" without any reference in the previous and following contexts. Thanks.
Top answer
" - No 'Whoa there' = stop/hold on. It is usually used to tell a horse to stop. Informally used to tell a person to stop doing what they are doing or to do things more slowly.
- " - No 'Whoa there' = stop/hold on.
- It is usually used to tell a horse to stop.
- Informally used to tell a person to stop doing what they are doing or to do things more slowly.
- Nellie sounds like a person's name.
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6 Answers
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Hi
Does the bolded part in the above mean "Who is there, Nellie?" - No
'Whoa there' = stop/hold on. It is usually used to tell a horse to stop.
Informally used to tell a person to stop doing what they are doing or to do things more slowly.
Nellie sounds like a person's name.
Does the bolded part in the above mean "Who is there, Nellie?" - No
'Whoa there' = stop/hold on. It is usually used to tell a horse to stop.
Informally used to tell a person to stop doing what they are doing or to do things more slowly.
Nellie sounds like a person's name.
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Thanks, Optilang.
Is it possible that Nellie can be a horse name? Thanks.
Is it possible that Nellie can be a horse name? Thanks.
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Hi
Well, from the extract it sounds as though the father is calling his son 'Nellie'
Well, from the extract it sounds as though the father is calling his son 'Nellie'
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optilangHi
Well, from the extract it sounds as though the father is calling his son 'Nellie'
Thanks, optilang.
The extract is from the novel "Loser," and the son is Donald Zinkoff. So, why does his father call his son "Nellie?"
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Hi
The father is using 'Whoa there, Nellie' whilst talking to his son Donald, as if he were talking to a horse.
The father is using 'Whoa there, Nellie' whilst talking to his son Donald, as if he were talking to a horse.
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"Whoa there, Nellie" is an expression. It's just not one you hear too much these days. You guys were right; it means "hold on" or "stop."
"Nellie" is just a part of the phrase, so the father's intent isn't to call his son Nellie. He's just using the expression to tell him to wait.
I tried to look up where the expression came from, but I'm having no luck. That's going to both
"Nellie" is just a part of the phrase, so the father's intent isn't to call his son Nellie. He's just using the expression to tell him to wait.
I tried to look up where the expression came from, but I'm having no luck. That's going to both
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