[Ads-l] straphanger -- figurative sense (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Mullins, Bill CIV (US)]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

After reading Dave's anecdote, I started thinking more bureaucratically and came up with this:


_Gettysburg [PA] Times_ 31 Dec 2002 p 4 col 2
"We need our commissioners to do the job they are paid to do, and perhaps hire another secretary if needed, rather than to create a whole new office with its attendant staff, assistants and accompanying straphangers."


_San Bernardino County Sun_ 10 Sep 1989 p D3 col 6
"So I find it particularly apt that members of his entourage are referred to, regardless of rank, as straphangers."


> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Dave Wilton
> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 1:55 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)
> 
> ----
> 
> I don't have a written citation, but I recall the figurative sense from c.1988 during my stint in the Army. I recall it quite distinctly because the
> term was new to me.
> 
> We were at Grafenwoehr Training Area and asked if our battalion would host a visit from the secretary of the Army, who was visiting GTA
> and wanted to see a unit training in the field. Our battalion commander said he would be happy to (as if he had a real choice in the matter),
> but he didn't want any "straphangers" accompanying the secretary. He surmised, quite correctly, that the secretary just wanted a photo op
> with some soldiers and would be no trouble, but the majors and lieutenant colonels who accompanied him would be on the lookout for
> anything to find fault with and thereby justify their existence.
> 
> (The event was also memorable because as the battalion chemical officer I always carried a CS (tear gas) grenade with me when in the field,
> so the troops wouldn't get any advance warning of a chemical training exercise--if I didn't have it with me at all times, it's presence would
> be a signal. When the secretary was visiting, my boss, the battalion operations officer, said in a loud voice, "Dave, now is your chance to
> gas the secretary of the Army." The secretary's security detail moved between him and me and kept a wary eye on me for the rest of the
> visit. It was rather uncomfortable.)
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [Caution-Caution-mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Mullins, Bill CIV (US)
> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 1:11 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [ADS-L] Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)
> 
 
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: American Dialect Society
> > [Caution-Caution-mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Dan
> > Goncharoff
> > Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2016 11:59 AM
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > Subject: Re: Straphanger (UNCLASSIFIED)
> >
> >
> > ----
> >
> > I doubt Wichita had a subway in 1892.
> 
> The article appears to be a reprint from the NY Tribune.
> 
> 
> > The use of the word "car" leads me to think the quote refers to a train, not a "subway or bus".
> > Perhaps the OED definition needs to be widened?
> >
> > Also, this is a 'literal' use -- referring to standing passengers
> > hanging onto straps -- and not a general use for all passengers,
> > standing or otherwise. I wonder when some (the standees, who should be standers?? -- we don't call those sitting sittees, do we?)
> became representative of all.
> >
> 
> I noted it as "literal" because I intended to also supply figurative cites (straphanger - one who attaches himself, perhaps undeservedly, to an
> activity or project), but wasn't able to find any appropriate quotes to support them.
> 
> I did see numerous instances in which "straphangers" referred to subway/bus/mass transit passengers in general, but didn't do anything to
> document them.
> 
> 
> 
> > DanG
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 14, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Mullins, Bill CIV (US) < william.d.mullins18.civ at mail.mil> wrote:
> >
> > > CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
> > >
> > > Cliffhangers got me to looking at straphangers
> > >
> > > Literal sense -- a subway or bus passenger.  OED has 1905.
> > >
> > > _Wichita [KS] Daily Eagle 7 Sep 1892 p 8 col 3 [Chronicling America]
> > > ""Seats at the other end of the car, ladies and gentlemen!"  The
> > > straphangers looked surprised."
> > >
> > >
> > >
> CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED
> 
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