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Sat May 31, 2008 8:50 am Phrase "A three pipe problem" |
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Hi Haihao
Without any context, it doesn't mean much.
However, if you know that Sherlock Holmes said "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." then I would guess that Sherlock meant that he would need some time to think about the problem, and the time needed would be about the same as the time it would take him to smoke three pipes. . _________________ 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: 7787 Location: USA
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Sat May 31, 2008 9:43 am Phrase "A three pipe problem" |
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Hi Haihao,
I remember seeing a film a long time ago set in Greece during World War 2 when some secret agents were planning to capture a German General. They asked a local how long it would take to walk a certain distance and the reply came: Oh, about one cigarette.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Cool Expressions |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 7369 Location: UK
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Haihao I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 1374 Location: Japan
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Sat May 31, 2008 10:00 am Phrase "A three pipe problem" |
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Hi Alan,
Thank you very much too for the film episode, which made the expression even more variable, vivid and clearer of usage.
Haihao |
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Haihao I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 1374 Location: Japan
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