Re: Common World Idioms

--- "Ph. D." <phild@...> wrote:

> George kicked the pail = George kicked the
> pail.
> George kicked the bucket = George died.
>
> George bought the ranch = George bought the
> ranch.
> George bought the farm = George died.
Mind you, either could be intended/understood
literally as well! Especially the latter, since
most people will never actually kick a bucket.

Now me I kicked two buckets today. But then,
there are buckets designed for kicking in my
environment! ;)

To understand these idiomatically, I think
there's some metalinguistic stuff going on.
Usually pregnant pauses, intonation, body
language, tone (of conversation) and similar
things that communicate the uncomfortable news
that someone known but not (too) close has died.

Padraic.


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