Idiom question

Tue Jan 25 20:34:12 UTC 2000

The whole scene suggests to me that that stern English gentleman was having
him on.

Victoria

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf
> Of James Smith
> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 10:31 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Idiom question
>
>
> --- "Aaron E. Drews" <aaron at LING.ED.AC.UK> wrote:
> > I asked a few people about "holy cow" referring
> > specifically to the Queen.
> > Nobody heard of it.  Maybe it's a local thing
> > somewhere in England...
> > maybe the people I asked weren't anti-monarchist
> > enough.
>
> Just a more complete version of the story:
>
> My friend was with another American in the London
> underground, and simply let out the exclamation "Holy
> Cow" in reaction to something.  An English
> "gentleman", dark suit, hat, umbrella, etc. turned to
> him, gave him a very stern look, and berated him for
> insulting the Queen.
>
> JIM
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