Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
form; model; image; condition; fitness; mold
fuel
expansion
disk
shape
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Meaning of "tote"


Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Talking heads? | Meaning of "reference to"
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Meaning of "tote" #1 (permalink) Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:23 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

"After riding a day and a half, he arrived at Frt Kemah. He ate at the caravanserai and he went in his cell, toting the sack, and fell asleep for a long time."

What does "tot" mean in this context?
All Potted Out
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 114

Tote #2 (permalink) Thu Nov 16, 2006 13:15 pm   Tote
 

Tote could mean 'carry' here: carrying the sack.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

In this story you'll learn everything about the passive voiceEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Start exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English course
Meaning of "tote" #3 (permalink) Thu Nov 16, 2006 13:22 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

Hi,

It appears that the infinitive of this verb is 'tote' and so the participle form would be 'toting'. The meaning as Conchita says, is 'carry' or 'haul' suggesting the object would be something heavy.

A
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Carry the sack to bed? #4 (permalink) Thu Nov 16, 2006 16:50 pm   Carry the sack to bed?
 

So...does it mean he carried the sack with him all the time when he was sleeping?
All Potted Out
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 114

Meaning of "tote" #5 (permalink) Thu Nov 16, 2006 17:02 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

meanwhile, "tot" is an entirely different word:

tot = young (or small, or young and small) child

tot = tater tot (shortened/slang form of "tater tot")

What is a tater tot, you ask?

http://www.sonicdrivein.com/menu/favesAndCraves.jsp

The tater tots are, as you look at the picture, to the right of the French fries. The tater tots pictured here are covered with cheese sauce.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2621
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Meaning of "tote" #6 (permalink) Thu Nov 16, 2006 17:06 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

Hi apo,
' he went in his cell, toting the sack ' means that he went to his cell dragging the sack with him and then I presume he fell asleep.

A
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Meaning of "tote" #7 (permalink) Fri Nov 17, 2006 22:46 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

There is no 'tot' here.... 'toting' is what one does when one 'totes' or 'carries' something. It does not especially connote anything particularly heavy. Indeed, in North America, a small back-pack or carrier-bag is often referred to as a 'tote-bag'.
Pond969
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 99
Location: Canada

Meaning of "tote" #8 (permalink) Sat Nov 18, 2006 0:19 am   Meaning of "tote"
 

I agree with the various descriptions of 'tote', but to me the word 'tot' is also quite common -- it's just not the word used in the sentence. The word in the sentence is clearly tote.

A 'tot' is a very small (young) child.

Hi Tom

Although the word 'tot' can be found in both British and American dictionaries, apparently 'tater tot' hasn't been deemed worthy enough (yet) to have its own dictionary entry (depite the fact that at least you and I know them well). HOWEVER, Wikipedia does have an entry. :lol:

Thanks to Wikipedia, I'm now the proud owner of the knowledge that 'tater tots' also exist in Australia, where they are called 'potato gems' as well as in the UK and New Zealand, where they are apparently referred to as 'potato pom-poms'. Somehow, though, I just can't help but prefer the 'tater tot' version. :D

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA

Meaning of "tote" #9 (permalink) Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:02 am   Meaning of "tote"
 

Hi,

Talking of tots meaning small children I am minded to add that 'tot' can also mean a short drink as of whisky. Does this mean that tiny tots taking too many tots (and perish the thought that this would ever happen) would then totter?

A
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Meaning of "tote" #10 (permalink) Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:15 am   Meaning of "tote"
 

Yankee wrote:
Somehow, though, I just can't help but prefer the 'tater tot' version. :D


And I like 'potato pom-poms'!

Well, the good old spud has gone a long way!
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

Meaning of "tote" #11 (permalink) Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:47 am   Meaning of "tote"
 

My dictionary says that tote is also a shorten form for 'totalizator'.
Can tot also be a shortern for totem? :) :D

Hmm.
One of the examples for to tote - to tote fair sounds a bit confusing to me. Could anybody comment it?
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Meaning of "tote" #12 (permalink) Sun Nov 19, 2006 16:56 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

Tamara ... 'to tote fair' does sound confusing and unusual... do you perhaps mean 'tote far'? That would make sense.

Just to follow up on the whiskey reference from Alan, I have always seen that usage when referring to a measure of drink but only, as far as I can recall, in reference to rum... I could be wrong about this, but I think a 'tot of rum' may have referred to the daily rum ration given to English sailor's.
Pond969
You can meet me at english-test.net


Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 99
Location: Canada

Meaning of "tote" #13 (permalink) Sun Nov 19, 2006 20:17 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

…Now I’ve luckily found to tote fair… among US Southernisms :)

to deal squarely

Also, here is an example from the US Midwest :) :
The two last named were in complete accord, albeit each one was a little suspicious that the other might not tote fair.

http://rs6.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/lhbum:@field(DOCID+@lit(lhbum30604div44))
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Meaning of "tote" #14 (permalink) Sun Nov 19, 2006 20:54 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

Tamara wrote:
…Now I’ve luckily found to tote fair… among US Southernisms :)

to deal squarely

Also, here is an example from the US Midwest :) :
The two last named were in complete accord, albeit each one was a little suspicious that the other might not tote fair.
Hi Tamara
My only question is: How (where) in the world did you come up with "tote fair" in the first place? :lol:

You may have found the only two instances of the usage on the planet (a slight exaggeration). ;) It appears to be a very old slang expression. I'd never heard it before and I'm no spring chicken. :shock:

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA

Meaning of "tote" #15 (permalink) Sun Nov 19, 2006 21:19 pm   Meaning of "tote"
 

Yankee wrote:
My only question is: How (where) in the world did you come up with "tote fair" in the first place? :lol:

You may have found the only two instances of the usage on the planet (a slight exaggeration). ;) It appears to be a very old slang expression. I'd never heard it before and I'm no spring chicken. :shock:

Hi Amy :)

Just have a look here:

ABBYY Lingvo definition of tote -> to tote fair

Sure, this is the most popular online English-Russian/Russian-English dictionary. :)
Even though you don’t understand Russian words, you can easily see that to tote fair is given as the main special case of the (verb) use :)

I actually spent some time to learn who and when use/used it :) -
until I found it among goobers (peanuts); ticky (common); pickaninny and other Southernisms.
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Display posts from previous:   
Talking heads? | Meaning of "reference to"
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2
Latest topics on English Forums
'A favor to ask of you''Keep it for you' vs 'Keep it for yourself'Is it "add an URL" or "add a URL"?Comparing or Compared?Without whom interest...Conscript: an adjective?Files are to deliver, reports are to send...The etymology of proscribePrevent sb. from sthPlease tell me how I express this in EnglishPresentation: Present/Past Simple?Meaning of "tote", page 2A three-day journey vs Three days' journey

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail