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 #2 (permalink) Fri May 09, 2008 23:48 pm idiom |
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Hello Hamid,
It's a quotation from an essay by Charles Lamb.
Lamb says that a smuggler is the "only honest thief", because a smuggler only robs "the revenue" – i.e. a smuggler does not pay duty on the goods he imports.
"The revenue" means "those who collect duties on imported goods".
The phrase "honest thief" is an oxymoron: it combines two contradictory ideas.
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #3 (permalink) Sat May 10, 2008 7:22 am Idiom: He is the only honest thief |
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Hi MrP,
Can we use that to refer to thieves that rob the rich and give those properties to the poor? ;)
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 Nessie
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| #4 (permalink) Sat May 10, 2008 7:53 am Idiom: He is the only honest thief |
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I guess it should be property. Not sure though. I think properties means charactersitics or something like that.
By the way, you can also refer to the one who steals your heart as 'an honest thief' :lol: (corny, I know :lol: )
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Daemon99
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| #5 (permalink) Sat May 10, 2008 12:55 pm Idiom: He is the only honest thief |
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| nessie wrote: |
Hi MrP,
Can we use that to refer to thieves that rob the rich and give those properties to the poor? ;) |
Hello Nessie,
"Honest thief" wouldn't immediately suggest that idea.
Usually "Robin Hood" is mentioned in such contexts.
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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Location: Southern England
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| #6 (permalink) Sat May 10, 2008 14:18 pm Idiom: He is the only honest thief |
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Hi MrP,
Thanks a lot for your idea :)
Yea, Robin Hood is the kind of "thief" I am reffering to :) I just want to make sure whether the term "the only honest thief" is used commonly to refer to those thief - hero :P
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Nessie
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| #7 (permalink) Sat May 10, 2008 18:57 pm Idiom: He is the only honest thief |
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hi Mrp
thanks for your fruitful response.
regards |
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Hamidp
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| #8 (permalink) Sat May 10, 2008 23:54 pm Idiom: He is the only honest thief |
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You're welcome!
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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