|
|
 #2 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:39 pm flipping fins |
|
|
.
No idea. Please supply some context.
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
|
 Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015
|
|
| #3 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:55 pm flipping fins |
|
|
Hi Hongdung,
The word 'flipping' is often used as an adjective in place of a stronger expletive. If you describe someone as a 'flipping nuisance', you mean that they are very irritating.
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13896
Location: UK
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 13:11 pm flipping fins |
|
|
| Mister Micawber wrote: |
.
No idea. Please supply some context.
. |
Well, this phrase is used in a story, when 2 young girls discover a chest in a shipwreck under the sea: "...It was like something out of the 'Treasure Island'. I swam under the table and Shona help me drag it out. 'Flipping fins,' she sail quietly, staring at something dangling at the front of the chain." |
|
Hongdung
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Posts: 77
|
|
| #5 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 14:00 pm flipping fins |
|
|
.
I agree with Alan, and the context bears him out, but I still can make nothing specific of 'fins'. What does she see 'dangling at the front of the chain'?
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
|
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 13015
|
|
| #6 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 14:28 pm flipping fins |
|
|
| Mister Micawber wrote: |
.
I agree with Alan, and the context bears him out, but I still can make nothing specific of 'fins'. What does she see 'dangling at the front of the chain'?
. |
It has concern with a previous part of story - a detail to helped 2 of them to find out new evidence of a secret. But it is not a climax of this story. A brass padlock that they haved a key to fit in. |
|
Hongdung
You can meet me at english-test.net
Joined: 28 Jun 2008
Posts: 77
|
|
| #7 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 17:28 pm flipping fins |
|
|
| Perhaps they mean "flip fins", diver's flippers? Although I've never seen it written like that. |
|
Cerberus™
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 11 Feb 2009
Posts: 1342
|
|
| #8 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 17:36 pm flipping fins |
|
|
Hi,
It's simply 'alliteration' as 'Jumping Joshuas' or 'silly Susan' or what you will.
Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13896
Location: UK
|
|
|
| Difference bewteen Time and Timing | Hope to get this conversation going |
