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 #2 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:24 am Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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| In what sense? |
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Jamie (K)
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:27 am Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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'Bear bait' refers to an activity long abandoned in the UK, but possibly still active in some parts of the world.
Try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear-baiting
It is used as a euphemism for 'goad' or 'irritate'. It's not very common. Another currently popular term is 'to wind up' e.g. "Sorry, I was just winding you up". |
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Anglo Sax
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:27 am Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| In what sense? |
| Quote: |
| In traffic offenses. |
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Fimbriae
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:36 am Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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It's not an expression you hear every day, but I think most native speakers would recognize it.
I have no idea how it would be used in regard to traffic offenses, however, unless someone was committing them deliberately to provoke a policeman. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #6 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:52 am Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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| This seems quite likely, 'bear' is CB slang for 'policeman'. |
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Anglo Sax
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| #7 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 11:57 am Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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| Anglo Sax wrote: |
| This seems quite likely, 'bear' is CB slang for 'policeman'. |
That's from the 1970s. I wonder if people still use that. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #8 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:01 pm Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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| You see it used a lot in films, so I guess that keeps it alive. |
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Anglo Sax
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| #9 (permalink) Thu Sep 17, 2009 15:51 pm Is the word 'bear bait' common? |
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I agree with Jamie. While the usage of 'bear' is oh so very 1970's slang, you might on still hear it on rare occasion, but it's still very recognizable.
Still, I've never heard in in the context of 'bear baiting', for goading a cop.
Listen from about 1:30-1:37 and you'll hear 'bear' twice. Again at about 2:23
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