voytek709@lemmy.ca to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world · edit-23 days agoWhat is a figure of speech you like in your language?message-squaremessage-square97fedilinkarrow-up1103arrow-down14file-text
arrow-up199arrow-down1message-squareWhat is a figure of speech you like in your language?voytek709@lemmy.ca to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world · edit-23 days agomessage-square97fedilinkfile-text
minus-squarekamen@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up1·1 day agoIn this line of thought I like how “tool” is something useful in its primary meaning, but derogatory when used about a person.
minus-squareRegalPotoo@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up2·1 day agoSort of, there is a parallel derivation where tool can be an innuendo for penis (“used his tool”), so describing someone as a tool is a slightly less vulgar way of calling someone a dick; unrefined, rude, obnoxious.
minus-squarekamen@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1·1 day agoYeah, fair point. Thanks for explaining. Not a native speaker, so I kind of forgot about that.
minus-squareRegalPotoo@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1·23 hours agoNo worries - I’m a native, but still had to think about it a bit. English is weird
In this line of thought I like how “tool” is something useful in its primary meaning, but derogatory when used about a person.
Sort of, there is a parallel derivation where tool can be an innuendo for penis (“used his tool”), so describing someone as a tool is a slightly less vulgar way of calling someone a dick; unrefined, rude, obnoxious.
Yeah, fair point. Thanks for explaining. Not a native speaker, so I kind of forgot about that.
No worries - I’m a native, but still had to think about it a bit. English is weird