Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
At first I thought you meant spoils of war.. And perhaps you did.. But perhaps you meant that war spoils.... something... and just neglected to tell us what war spoils?
At first I thought you meant spoils of war.. And perhaps you did.. But perhaps you meant that war spoils.... something... and just neglected to tell us what war spoils?
Well, I guess war spoils just about everything.
Yes War Spoils life itself. I don't like wars but reading history reveals all that war has spoiled centuries.
So a finagler finagles, of course. But so does a shyster.
I looked up the word gyp... interesting history.
I love words.
Scheme reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine... One of the characters was called Schemer.. He always had an angle.
I haven't looked it up, but I assume the word derives from "gypsy", meaning that gypsies (or gypsy's if you prefer ) would take monetary advantage of someone, given the chance. That's what I've always heard anyway. I suppose it would be a politically incorrect word these days (but that doesn't affect one way or the other whether I'd use the word or not).
I see this word in British writing, but seldom see it in American. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it said out loud. Gob is mouth I think? So the literal meaning is smacked in the mouth ? But I think the word is used to mean utterly surprised.
What is an equally colorful Americanism for being utterly surprised?
Astonished, surprised, shocked—sure. Don’t we have a more colorful colloquialism though?
I see this word in British writing, but seldom see it in American. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it said out loud. Gob is mouth I think? So the literal meaning is smacked in the mouth ? But I think the word is used to mean utterly surprised.
What is an equally colorful Americanism for being utterly surprised?
Astonished, surprised, shocked—sure. Don’t we have a more colorful colloquialism though?
Brits also say "gutted", meaning upset or disappointed. They have several interesting ways of saying things.
I can't think of an Americanism that's quite as colorful as gobsmacked, but it's one of those words that you know immediately what it means, even if you've never heard it before. It's almost onomonopeic (is that a word??).
So do I, but I worked with a guy who said KY-bosh. Never heard it said that way before.
I just googled it; the audio version pronounces it ky-bosh, which is how I've always heard it.
Maybe it's a regional pronunciation.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
) would take monetary advantage of someone, given the chance. That's what I've always heard anyway. I suppose it would be a politically incorrect word these days (but that doesn't affect one way or the other whether I'd use the word or not).