Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to divide; to separate; to be divided; to allocate
convince
resign
part
privilege
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

meaning of "go out on the toe"



 
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
usage of "offer somebody resistance" | Championship vs Competiton
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
meaning of "go out on the toe" #1 (permalink) Sat Jan 05, 2008 22:51 pm   meaning of "go out on the toe"
 

Hi,

I can't work out what the part in bold might mean. Could you explain its meaning to me please?
Quote:
Ruth banished the three hippies from the town. Those worthless, crab-raddled
excuses for human beings came in one month and went out on the toe of Ruth's dainty size five shoe the next


Also, is it right that size five shoes means a pair of shoes which size is five?

Thanks in advance !
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

meaning of "go out on the toe" #2 (permalink) Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:22 am   meaning of "go out on the toe"
 

Ruth has very small feet, so her shoes are only size five. Saying that the hippies went out on the toe of her size-five shoes means that she kicked them out. In other words, she gave them the boot. She ejected them from the town.

The whole thing gives the image of a small, genteel, dainty woman who is tough enough to throw bigger, more vulgar, more obnoxious people out of town all by herself.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 6552
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Do you know how to use the relative pronoun?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Here is how you can learn English the fun way! Click to subscribe to free email English course
meaning of "go out on the toe" #3 (permalink) Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:02 am   meaning of "go out on the toe"
 

Thank you !
It is a metaphorical language :)
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

meaning of "go out on the toe" #4 (permalink) Sun Jan 06, 2008 14:53 pm   meaning of "go out on the toe"
 

But note that it's not a common expression. I think it's probably unique to that text.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 6552
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Display posts from previous:   
usage of "offer somebody resistance" | Championship vs Competiton
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
worth a short or worth the shotfirst/second year student vs. in his/her first/second yearknow in the Past Perfect Continuous'The success of the Eric Canal spurred an area of canal building.' Help!Punctuating 'in fact'...what does the phrase 'the low din' mean?ask a question from sy or ask sy a question"amount to" or "amounts to"?Plural or singular in this case? Apples vs apple.Question about passage: For instance, he'd like to outlaw all leads involving...when do I use "had"?when do I use "may" and "might"forename vs. first name

 
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