Re: Conspecies Biology

On Mon, 2004-08-09 at 22:33, Philip Newton wrote:
> Kua tohi e John Cowan <cowan@...>:
> > Philip Newton scripsit:
> >
> > > I only know of one mammal species that "goes to bathroom" in order to
> > > excrete waste from the body.
> >
> > It's only when you grok in fullness what a different meaning "John
> > went to the bathroom in his pants" has in different anglophone countries
> > that you realize just how complex English really can be.
In no context I'd probably interpret that americanly, because why would
you mention that John went to the bathroom with his pants on? (also,
because that's the more natural way of expressing it). (But generally,
bathroom to me means a room with a shower(!) in it. Euphemisms be
damned!)

> But why was there a door in her nightdress?
How else would she get out?

> And what was the elephant
> doing in his pyjamas?
I suppose it'd run out of red nail polish...*

* This alludes to the following (well-known) joke:
  Q. Why do elephants paint their toenails red?
  A. So they can hide in the strawberry patch.

  This responses of disbelief to this have the response: 'Have you ever
  seen an elephant in a strawberry patch? Well it must work then!'.

--
Tristan Mc Leay <kesuari@...>

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