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Thu Sep 21, 2006 13:16 pm Idiom: barely off the dock |
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Hi mishy
What context did you hear/read this in?
Amy _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7245 Location: New England
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Thu Sep 21, 2006 13:38 pm Idiom: barely off the dock |
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Hi, Maybe:
almost alongside the pier or just before a harbour
Regards Jan |
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Jan I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 285 Location: at sea
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Thu Sep 21, 2006 15:01 pm Idiom: barely off the dock |
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. Barely off the dock probably means newly arrived (as immigrants in a new country) and not very skilled in the local language or customs, but still maintaining their native ways.
That is my guess; without context, we cannot be sure. . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 3883 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Thu Sep 21, 2006 15:02 pm Off the dock |
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Taken as an idiomatic expression, I could only find this:
jump off the dock
Naval slang: got married (perhaps a jocular reference to the old custom of executing pirates by hanging them at the dock-side).
From Love Among the Chickens by P. G. Wodehouse. |
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Conchita Language Coach
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 2702 Location: Madrid, Spain
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Thu Sep 21, 2006 15:21 pm Idiom: barely off the dock |
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Hi, After some investigations amongs natives I have got these conclusions: It is more possible to use it in a context with leaving the harbour, like approaching the harbour. It sounds strange and old fashion but if it wouldn't be directly talking about manoeuvring or ship now coming alongside but just describing situation afterwards they could use something similar. Leaving the harbor seaside would have required most probably some different words. Regards Jan |
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Jan I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 285 Location: at sea
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Thu Sep 21, 2006 15:21 pm Idiom: barely off the dock |
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. And the few results that Ms Google can muster suggest that barely off the dock simply means just arrived. . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 3883 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Thu Sep 21, 2006 16:40 pm Expression: barely off the dock |
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. Without further context, I'd assume the same sort of figurative meaning as Mr. Mic does. . Otherwise (and without further context), I'd just understand a physical proximity (very close) between some kind of boat and a dock --- similar to Cap'n Jan's descriptions.  . Amy _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7245 Location: New England
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Fri Sep 22, 2006 2:37 am Idiom: barely off the dock |
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| I read it in a conversation, when someone asked how is $100 in China, then someone aswered " barely off the dock". |
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mishy I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 24
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Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:07 am Idiom: barely off the dock |
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Hi mishy
I don't understand what the person was asking. Additional context is needed.
If the person wanted to know what $100 is worth, then I'd understand the "barely off the dock" answer to mean "$100 won't get you very far in China." (i.e., You'll run out of money quickly).
Without even more context, it's hard to say what your phrase means for sure.
Amy _________________ Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 7245 Location: New England
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