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 Sun May 28, 2006 13:37 pm Novel:You only live twice: |
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Q1- Why no WAS before called?(first line) -- not required; it is a nonfinite clause with the -ed form of the verb:
The geisha named Trembling Leaf sat there.
A wagon pulled by an old horse rolled slowly past.
The feathers torn from the bird were used as hat decorations.
Q2- Who is Grey Pearl?? -- that is the name of the Madame.
Q3- What is No play, translated? -- a Noh play is a traditional form of Japanese drama featuring stylized music and dance.
Q4- Is Ian Fleming difficult to understand as compared to Dan Brown, Stephen King, Sidney Sheldon? Why? -- Sorry, I have no idea; I have never bothered to read any of those authors.
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_________________
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who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber |
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Mister Micawber
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Tom
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| Sun May 28, 2006 18:35 pm Novel:You only live twice: |
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Hi Tom
Regarding your last 2 questions, what I would understand is:
1. The geisha's name is Trembling Leaf'; The Madame's name is Grey Pearl. (i.e., 2 different people)
2. The geisha apparently doesn't speak English, so the Madame has to translate what James Bond has just said.
The main sentence is: "Grey Pearl" translated.
--> Everything in between is just extra information that describes who Grey Pearl is and what she looks like.
(If you want to know what the people in a Noh play look like, you can find lots of pictures using Google.)
Amy
EDIT:
The "Grey Pearl ... translated." sentence reminds me of a German sentence because the subject and verb are so far away from each other.  |
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Yankee
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| Sun May 28, 2006 21:32 pm Novel:You only live twice: |
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Thank you, dear; I got it.
Now look at this, please.
Chapter 2: CURTAINS FOR BOND:(starts)
Exactly one month before, it had been the eve of the annual closing of Blades. On the next day, September 1st, those members who were still unfashionably in London would have to pig it for a month at Whites or Boodle's. Whites they considered noisy and 'smart', Boodle's too full of superannuated country squires who would be talking of nothing but the opening of the partridge season. For Blades, it was one month in the wilderness. But there it was. The staff, one supposed, had to have their holiday.
Q-1 What is WHITES and BOODLE'S?
Q-2 What is PIG IT?
Q-3 Who would pig it and why?
Q-4 Is it all cultural discussion?
Q-5 Can you please explain in detail and forgive me  ???
Yours TOm |
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Tom
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Yankee
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| Mon May 29, 2006 7:20 am Novel:You only live twice: |
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Dear Alan
Can you give us an insight into London life? "Annual closing of blades and all other questions..." Please explain, Alan.
Tom |
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Tom
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Yankee
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| Tue May 30, 2006 11:12 am Novel:You only live twice: |
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| Yankee wrote: | Hi Tom
I googled "Boodle's" and found out that this is a private men's club. Someone other than me will have to explain further what exactly a private men's club is. 
But now I'm asking myself whether "pig it" might be similar to the expression "pig out" which means "to eat ravenously"... |
Thank you, Amy! Now every time I pig out, I'll be able to put a name to it (not that it will make me feel any better, though)  !
As to the term pig it, here's what I've found:
| Quote: | | "Pigging it" means changing your home habits in any way. If you have been accustomed to eating your sardines after a meal, and somebody offers them to you first, that is "pigging it." In other words, as nearly as I can make out, "pigging it" does not so much mean doing things in an inadequate fashion as doing them differently. |
pig it Slang
To live in a piglike fashion.
To live in a slovenly way.
There is also 'porky pigging it', which means to wear a shirt without pants... |
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Conchita
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| Tue Jul 22, 2008 22:51 pm Novel:You only live twice: |
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Hello Tom,
| Tom wrote: | Chapter 2: CURTAINS FOR BOND:(starts)
Exactly one month before, it had been the eve of the annual closing of Blades. On the next day, September 1st, those members who were still unfashionably in London would have to pig it for a month at Whites or Boodle's. Whites they considered noisy and 'smart', Boodle's too full of superannuated country squires who would be talking of nothing but the opening of the partridge season. For Blades, it was one month in the wilderness. But there it was. The staff, one supposed, had to have their holiday.
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Q-1 What is WHITES and BOODLE'S? ] As Amy says, these are London clubs. Generally, you can only join a "gentlemen's club" if you are a) willing to pay a substantial annual subscription b) recommended by another member. They tend to have traditional political tendencies (thus White's, the oldest club, is associated with the Conservative Party). Clubs offer facilities such as a library, bar, dining room, games room, etc. Usually there are rooms available for the night, too.
Q-2 What is PIG IT? ] Here, to put up with unsatisfactory conditions. The usage here is ironic: gentlemen's clubs are places of affluence.
Q-3 Who would pig it and why? ] The members of Blades (which is another club, but imaginary), because Blades was closed for a month.
Q-4 Is it all cultural discussion? ] It is a mildly satirical picture of the typical members of each club.
Q-5 Can you please explain in detail and forgive me ]
"Exactly one month before, the gentlemen's club Blades had closed for a month, as happened every year. The day after, members who were still in London (which is an unfashionable place to be, in September) had no choice but to go to White's or Boodle's instead. However, those Blades members thought White's too full of noisy discussions and people who wanted to be fashionable; while they thought Boodle's would be full of very old owners of country estates, who would be talking about shooting game (e.g. partridges) all the time. For members of Blades, the month when Blades was closed was a dull uninteresting month. But there was no choice in the matter. The Blades staff were entitled to an annual holiday."
All the best,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:45 am Novel:You only live twice: |
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Dear MrPedantic
I am simply grateful to you!
Tom |
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Tom
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| Wed Jul 23, 2008 23:28 pm Novel:You only live twice: |
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It was my pleasure!
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| Last month I couldn't make contact... | "ago" in presente perfect tense? |
