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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 1239 Location: Rf
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#3 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 20:09 pm Puns - I just love 'em (tandem) |
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| Alan wrote: |
Two women are in their gardens chatting over the fence:
1st woman: You look worried. What's the matter? 2nd woman: My two boys went out on a bike ride some time ago and they're still not back. 1st woman: Tandem? 2nd woman: No, but just you wait till they get back.
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Hi Alan, so what exactly is the pun here? I know it must be the word tandem -- which can be split into two words the latter being them. However, what is the first word (the verb -- tan doesn't make much sense here, does it?) _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10059 Location: EU
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#4 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 20:18 pm Tan |
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Hi Torsten,
Tan is another word for beat in the sense of give them a good beating (this is an old pun when beating your child was not regarded as non pc) So you get the double:
Did they go by tandem?
or
Have you tanned (beaten) them?
Oh dear, it sounds even worse now that I've explained it!
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Word Story: Dictionary |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9205 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 20:24 pm Tanned them... |
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Well Alan since I'm a rather peaceful person I think I'm excused for not having known the second meaning of tan . _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 10059 Location: EU
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Fan Of Arabian Horses I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1007 Location: next to Dortmund , Europe
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 9205 Location: UK
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#8 (permalink) Tue Jul 18, 2006 22:49 pm Pun |
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| Alan wrote: |
Hi Michael,
Let me know which bit you don't understand.
Alan |
Hi Alan!
Thanks for your readiness to explain your pun especially to me. I think, your recent explanation was well enough, at least I?ve understood it that way:
The second woman looks worried as their two boys didn?t came back from their bike ride until now. So the 1st woman asked her whether it was because 2nd woman tand?em (beated them). On that question the 2nd woman answered that she didn?t tand?em till now, but if the 1st woman would wait until the boys will come back, she could experience that.
I hope my interpretation is correct. I only tried to express my surprise, about how easy it is to confuse me still with one word (exactly two words) only.
Michael |
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Fan Of Arabian Horses I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1007 Location: next to Dortmund , Europe
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#9 (permalink) Wed Jul 19, 2006 22:42 pm Puns - I just love 'em (tandem) |
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Hi!
I just wanted to add that I myself am a great fan of puns. My favorite writer of puns is the German actor "Heinz Erhard", who was capable to play with the German language like nobody else I ever knew.
Michael |
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Fan Of Arabian Horses I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1007 Location: next to Dortmund , Europe
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#10 (permalink) Wed Jul 19, 2006 23:11 pm Pun |
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| Fan of Arabian horses wrote: |
| The second woman looks worried as their two boys didn?t came back from their bike ride until now. So the 1st woman asked her whether it was because 2nd woman tand?em (beated them). |
The first woman asks whether the boys went riding on a tandem (a bicycle for two people).
Has anyone ever heard of a (very old!) song by London born Harry Dacre, Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built For Two), introduced in 1892?
There is a flower within my heart, Daisy, Daisy! Planted one day by a glancing dart, Planted by Daisy Bell! Whether she loves me or loves me not, Sometimes its hard to tell; Yet I am longing to share the lot of Beautiful Daisy Bell!
(chorus)
Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer do? I'm half crazy, All for the love of you! It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage, But you'll look sweet on the seat of a bicycle built for two!
(chorus)
We will go "tandem" as man and wife, Daisy, Daisy! Ped'ling away down the road of life, I and my Daisy Bell! When the road's dark we can despise P'licmen and "lamps" as well; There are "bright lights" in the dazzling eyes Of beautiful Daisy Bell!
(chorus)
I will stand by you in "wheel" or woe, Daisy, Daisy! You'll be the bell(e) which I'll ring, you know! Sweet little Daisy Bell! You'll take the lead in each trip we take, Then if I don't do well; I will permit you to use the break, My beautiful Daisy Bell!
What has changed more since those days: lyrics styles or the language itself ? |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#11 (permalink) Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:29 am Puns - I just love 'em (tandem) |
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You know that, when the man from Scotland crosses the road, and an English almost ran over him, and starts yelling at the Scottish: "Have you come to London to die?" He says: " No, I came yesterday!" Spencer |
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Spencer I'm here quite often ;-)

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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#14 (permalink) Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:42 am Puns - I just love 'em (tandem) |
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| Yes, Conchita, I assumed in the same way |
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Pamela I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

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| Things have changed, haven't they? | Special program for immigrant students? |