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#2 (permalink) Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:26 am Expression: 'packed like' |
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| We have plenty of expressions like this, but I can't come up with one that sounds similar to your guesses. Maybe it involved some creative play on words. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 5332 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#3 (permalink) Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:22 am Expression: 'packed like' |
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. After 30 pp of Google results, I give up too.
I thought, like Jamie, that there would be many sayings of the form 'packed like... in....', but Ms Google offers up 99% sardines, and nothing much else imaginative; certainly nothing that sounds like 'quails in a squawk' or 'quills in a hawk' or whatever. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 7417 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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#4 (permalink) Sat Jul 22, 2006 10:26 am Packed like... |
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This got me curious and sent me on a hunt for some more imagery. The comparisons I found are useless to Tom, but I thought they were fun:
(The place was packed/full as/like)
turkeys on their way to an Adopt A Turkey sanctuary farm in upstate New York a fish taco a calzone a Brazilian bikini a supermarket before a hurricane a mosh pit a rich man’s fridge a woman’s suitcase vultures on a corpse sushi frozen food and battery hens tuna in brine a truck-stop diner at dawn. herrings in a barrel a cattle car like sardines in a crushed tin box (I liked this version of the popular one) This one uses (most of) the proverbial phrases at once:
Like a can of sardines in a Tokyo subway car in Times Square at midnight on New Year's Eve. Like this forum on the evening of March 26th (That last one is the only one I made up!)  |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#5 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:04 am Last- ditch attempt! |
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Many thanks to Jamie, Mister.Micawber and Conchita for all your interest and effort for my query!
I tried again and I give up with/ on the given one:
Hero: Is the temple filled? Child: Packed like quiver to the archer!
(and the child did have a quiver fastened to his back then)
Do you think it sounds logical? Could it be used as a simile in a movie based on a biblical story that dates back to 3000 years?
Please reply! I am curious!
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2061
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#6 (permalink) Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:33 am Expression: "Packed like..." |
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Hi Tom
That sounds logical. It might just reflect the idea of the closeness of a quiver to an archer's body and the comparison is appropriate to the context.
Amy |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8265 Location: USA
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#7 (permalink) Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:37 am Expression: "Packed like..." |
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I listened to it again and if I am not mistaken, he said:
Packed like wheat in a shock.
Is anyone aware of a simile like this?
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2061
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#8 (permalink) Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:21 am Packed like wheat in a shock |
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Eureka! I first thought it could be 'like wheat in a sock'. But there's a definition of 'shock' that fits perfectly: a pile of sheaves of grain stacked upright in a field for drying.
So, there we have it, at last! |
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Conchita Language Coach

Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2826 Location: Madrid, Spain
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#9 (permalink) Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:28 am Expression: "Packed like..." |
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Hello MM
I wasn't even courteous enough to tell you that I finally found the said expression. By the way, did you see it then? Do you find it reasonable enough?
Wheat in a shock
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2061
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#10 (permalink) Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:39 am Expression: "Packed like..." |
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. Packed like wheat in a shock is a good simile, though a bit dated-- I doubt many people know what a shock of wheat is. But I had completely forgotten this thread. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 7417 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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#11 (permalink) Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:35 pm Expression: "Packed like..." |
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| But people know what a shock of hair is. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 5332 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#12 (permalink) Mon Apr 07, 2008 14:07 pm Expression: "Packed like..." |
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| What was the film? |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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| Possessive case- a confusion. | If clause (Can we use continous form in If clause?) |