Assume v. Presume

[EEPhil]

Would that be a parrot that's met its maker? Arguments are next door.

No, it's resting. Do you want the five minute argument or the full half-hour?

 

[gomezz]

Apropos a recent spat, I wonder what the opinions are on the threshold percentage for what qualifies as a "vast majority"?

Depends on context. For a political issue it could be as little at 51/49%

 

[Black Hole]

Question: does the set of all chickens include cockerels?

 

[Black Hole]

Estate agent-speak (Homes Under The Hammer): "reconfigurated"

Jeez.

 

[EEPhil]

Local pub being transformed into "Hickory's" Advertising blurb and exterior signs: "Opening Hours. We'll be open & smokin' 8 days a week". Americans, always messing with units. (Hundredweight, gallons etc). I didn't know they'd introduced an eight day week. What is this eighth day called? And, when you look at the full opening hours, why is it not listed? False advertising!

 

[gomezz]

I thought it was The Beatles who introduced us to the eight day week?

 

[EEPhil]

Not a fan of the Beatles, so wouldn't know.

 

[Black Hole]

Crossword clue: Collects (7)

Answer: Uplifts

Huh?

 

[gomezz]

The opposite of Delivers = Downdrops.

 

[trog]

Crossword clue: Collects (7)

Answer: Uplifts

Huh?

Blame it on the Jocks and Kiwi's

uplift in British English​

verb(ʌpˈlɪft )(transitive)
1.
to raise; elevate; lift up
2.
to raise morally, spiritually, culturally, etc
3. Scottish and New Zealand
to collect (a passenger, parcel, etc); pick up

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/uplift

 

[trog]

The opposite of Delivers = Downdrops.

Opposite? don't you mean the same as? Downdrops would be the opposite of uplifts if it was valid however Drops off could be the opposite of uplifts.

 

[Black Hole]

3. Scottish and New Zealand
to collect (a passenger, parcel, etc); pick up

That's awful! It's typical of the Sunday quick crossword that the setters use synonyms at the very bottom of the dictionary entry. There were only a couple of words which fitted the letters, and that was one of them, but I couldn't see the connection.

Sounds like porch piracy to me.

The opposite of Delivers = Downdrops.

I understand what you mean!

 

[EEPhil]

The opposite of Delivers = Downdrops.

I understand what you mean!

That went over my head, the back gate and landed, broken, on my path!

 

[prpr]

Fuel is very commonly "uplifted" into aeroplane tanks.

 

[EEPhil]

Could you pass an English exam from 1913?

Could you pass a Cambridge English exam from 1913?

Three teachers sat - and failed - the first Cambridge English exam 112 years ago. How would you do?

www.bbc.co.uk

I couldn't!

 

[prpr]

I got most of them.
b) seemed overly wordy but I didn't get the reason why.
d) Should it not also be "anyone" rather than "any one"?

 

[Black Hole]

Hmm. a) should read 'I hope you are seriously determined to improve'. I'm not sure 'seriously' is an applicable adverb for 'to improve'.

b) The use of "hanging participles" is another stylistic thing similar to split infinitives – only wrong because somebody says so, and perfectly acceptable in poetic form.

d) Should it not also be "anyone" rather than "any one"?

Not in 1913, this is a case of words becoming combined in more recent usage. 'To day' is another example (although people who still spell it like that are dying out – the one I knew was born in 1925).

 

[EEPhil]

a), e) & f) - No problem. Didn't spot the rest. "Must try harder"

 

[Black Hole]

Curious. "Today" means "this day", but why? And why no to-week, to-month, to-year?

 

[prpr]

What is morrow?