Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
select; fine; excellent
eventual
curious
managerial
choice
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Expression: blobs of gilt



 
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 Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Could I say 'pass on a message'? | Do native speakers say "So Long"?
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Expression: blobs of gilt #1 (permalink) Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:50 am   Expression: blobs of gilt
 

Hi,

Could you please help me with:

Quote:
Ye Art Shoppe, Prop. Mrs. Mary Ellen Wilks, Christian Science Library open daily free. A touching fumble at beauty. A one-room shanty of boards recently covered with rough stucco. A show-window delicately rich in error: vases starting out to imitate tree-trunks but running off into blobs of gilt--an aluminum ash-tray labeled "Greetings from Gopher Prairie"--a Christian Science magazine--a stamped sofa-cushion portraying a large ribbon tied to a small poppy, the correct skeins of embroidery-silk lying on the pillow. Inside the shop, a glimpse of bad carbon prints of bad and famous pictures, shelves of phonograph records and camera films, wooden toys, and in the midst an anxious small woman sitting in a padded rocking chair.


1. Does it mean: vases that had been purposed to imitate tree-trunks but consequently went off that purpose and became some golden masses? If so, since 'a blob' means 'an amorphous mass' how could vases come to that?

Many thanks.

Haihao
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
Location: Japan

Expression: blobs of gilt #2 (permalink) Wed Apr 11, 2007 14:00 pm   Expression: blobs of gilt
 

.
The vases are generally tree-trunk designs, but the realization is poorly done, the design is unclear, and the gilt glaze is blobby, especially (I envision) at the top and bottom of the vase. If you have seen cheap chinaware, you can imagine how the design is unclearly executed.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's
Mister Micawber
Language Coach


Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015

Can you find all the prepositions in this story?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!How many different ways with words do you know? Subscribe to free email English course
Expression: blobs of gilt #3 (permalink) Thu Apr 12, 2007 0:34 am   Expression: blobs of gilt
 

Oh, that's what it is to it! I got the whole picture now, Mister Micawber, and thank you again.

Haihao
Haihao
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Posts: 2471
Location: Japan

Display posts from previous:   
Could I say 'pass on a message'? | Do native speakers say "So Long"?
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
What match did he ask for?Phrase: farther cheekMeaning of "i get some money for win"?Relative pronoun vs Interrogative pronounHow to speak 'I were beat by you, and you are the winner' in a correct way?manner vs customMeaning of "she were to come tomorrow"When to use "have"Free weekly podcast for EFL learnersWhat's the difference btw small and little, big and large?1 March 2007 or 1st March 2007?with definite article or without?Phrase: vice gone feeble and unenterprising and dull

 
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