|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Ask for help > As thick as two short planks
As thick as two short planks
|
mari_18cf
|
As thick as two short planks
|
|
Why is the meaning "stupid"?
What is the origin of it? |
19 Oct 2012
|
|
|
|
papadeli
|
|
I �ve found some answers about this. 1st Greetings from Greece, |
20 Oct 2012
|
|
|
SaraMariam
|
|
For the history of words, I sometimes use http://www.etymonline.com . Can be pretty interesting sometimes to see where words had their origin :)
HUgs Sara |
20 Oct 2012
|
|
|
almaz
|
|
As Sara �s link goes on to say, thick meaning �stupid �/ �obtuse � dates back to the late 16th century (Shakespeare used it in this way), but it may in fact have developed from an earlier use signifying �lacking sensitivity � (the related meaning of dense only dates back to the 19th century, by the way). And two short planks are proportionally thicker than two long planks. |
20 Oct 2012
|
|
|
