Re: NATLANG: Chinese for "chestnuts"

On 2/2/06, Erika <erika0100@...> wrote:
> --- "Joseph B." <darkmoonman@...> wrote:
>
> > Some L1 English speakers use the word "chestnut" to
> > refer to a little gem of
> > wisdom.  Does anyone here know what words are used
> > in any of the dialects of
> > Chinese?
> > Thanks.
>
> I've never even heard that in English..
Agreed.  I usually hear "nugget" of wisdom.  A "chestnut" is, IME, a
term of derision for something old: an old joke, a proven-wrong rule
of thumb, etc., as in "Oh, that old chestnut."


--
Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...>