Mangled metaphors, scroowy sayings

[Brah]

Though this is not a retooled cliche, "By right" is something I have only heard here, and ad nauseam.

[nakatago]

Though this is not a retooled cliche, "By right" is something I have only heard here, and ad nauseam.

By right, you should be used to Singapore proper English by now.

[Wd40]

Another similar one and used in the same context as "By right" is "close one eye"

"By right, he should have been caned, but because he is an FT, the authorities closed one eye"

Used in situations like; FT slapped a taxi driver

[Brah]

Though this is not a retooled cliche, "By right" is something I have only heard here, and ad nauseam.

By right, you should be used to Singapore proper English by now.

Used to - yes, roll my eyes when I hear it - usually, tolerant of - no, keeping it out my my lexicon - a daily battle.

[uscate]

This is a very funny thread!!

I had never heard "it takes 2 hands to clap" until I arrived in Singapore….and if I never hear it again it'll be too soon….

[sundaymorningstaple]

Heard it often in the US before coming here. Might be regional though, in the US.

[Wd40]

This is a very funny thread!!

I had never heard "it takes 2 hands to clap" until I arrived in Singapore….and if I never hear it again it'll be too soon….

Very common saying in India.

[Strong Eagle]

This is a very funny thread!!

I had never heard "it takes 2 hands to clap" until I arrived in Singapore….and if I never hear it again it'll be too soon….

I don't know why this post reminds me of this:

If a man is walking alone in the forest and there is no woman around to watch him, is he still wrong?

[nakatago]

This is a very funny thread!!

I had never heard "it takes 2 hands to clap" until I arrived in Singapore….and if I never hear it again it'll be too soon….

People stopped alluding to two-handed clapping ever since Bart Simpson demonstrated how he could clap with one hand.

@SE: in the same episode, Lisa cited the "tree falls in the forest thing" which of course spawned numerous derivatives including the 'man always wrong according to his wife.'

[JR8]

Though this is not a retooled cliche, "By right" is something I have only heard here, and ad nauseam.

To me it's quite a maybe 60s UK expression. I can see it as a repeated character phrase in a sit-com. In a work environment, a lowly probably older employee is the gatekeeper to something others need. Something pretty basic like access to the stationary cupboard. But because this is the only bit of power this fading character has he uses it to the tiring maximum.

John: Hi Alf, can you unlock the stationary cupboard, I need a pad and some pens.
Alf: What happened to all the pens you had last month?
John: All? I had three, and I've been really busy drafting reports.
Alf: [Looking over top of ancient spectacles] But by right the budget only allows for two per member of staff per month. But.... go on <sighing>, this time I'll let you.

[the lynx]

Sister just said this phrase "to overextend my welcome".

Told her it should be "to overstay my welcome".

On similar note, "it takes two hands to clap" relays the same meaning as "it takes two to tango". I don't know it is an actual saying or if it is an Asian derivative. Still sounds valid.

"To close one eye" is just a bastardisation of "to turn a blind eye (to)".

[GSM8]

On similar note, "it takes two hands to clap" relays the same meaning as "it takes two to tango". I don't know it is an actual saying or if it is an Asian derivative. Still sounds valid.

Can't remember when/where I heard this (but has to be an Indian or Asian context) - Kid is arguing with his mother saying "it takes 2 hands to clap". Mother retorts, "it takes me 1 hand to slap"

[earthfriendly]

If a man is walking alone in the forest and there is no woman around to watch him, is he still wrong?

Lovely analogy. I swim in my backyard pool naked. Next door neighbors' houses are such that they don't have an immediate view but if they have the need to peek over the fence, then is it my problem they end up catching a glimpse?

I think in whatever we set our heart in doing, we should strive to put out our best. However, not everyone is linguistically inclined. Me and my daughter have problems with rote memorisation, a necessity when learning the rules of a language. She would call an "ambulance" a "hospital truck". I understood her fully. It is not so easy for her to memorise another new term. She is far ahead of her peers in logical, rational and cognitive thinking. But just weak with language.

And also, they said 90 % of communication is done via body language and non-verbal cues. For the most part, I won't put too much reliance on the eloquence of words. But rather the whole package. Although in a forum setting, we largely have to rely on the written words.

[sundaymorningstaple]

On similar note, "it takes two hands to clap" relays the same meaning as "it takes two to tango". I don't know it is an actual saying or if it is an Asian derivative. Still sounds valid.

Can't remember when/where I heard this (but has to be an Indian or Asian context) - Kid is arguing with his mother saying "it takes 2 hands to clap". Mother retorts, "it takes me 1 hand to slap"

That's for sure, you would end up in court in the US. Your kids would have you arrested.

[zzm9980]

Sister just said this phrase "to overextend my welcome".

Told her it should be "to overstay my welcome".

That correction probably didn't help your welcome either