[Ads-l] spades (distance)

[Dave Hause]

Since the first site is talking about ragworms as a live prey/food source 
for axolotls (amphibians), "a couple of spades away" implies to me that they 
are plentiful and easy to dig up.
Dave Hause

-----Original Message----- 
From: Barretts Mail
Sent: Wednesday, September 5, 2018 12:58 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: spades (distance)

Based on some of the sources, this might be Irish English usage. It seems to 
mean “steps” or “a short distance”.

https://www.caudata.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-51810.html 
<https://www.caudata.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-51810.html>
timg
11 Dec 2007
——
I live two minutes from the irish sea, where there is a plentiful supply of 
ragworms, just a couple of spades away, and...
——

https://dokumen.tips/documents/st-ives-local-janfeb-2016-edition.html 
<https://dokumen.tips/documents/st-ives-local-janfeb-2016-edition.html>
St. Ives Local
Jan/Feb 2016
——
Once you have established your soil type, success is only a few spades away.
——

http://apocalypsewriters.com/blog/2014/07/24/i-see-a-red-door/ 
<http://apocalypsewriters.com/blog/2014/07/24/i-see-a-red-door/>
K. J. Joyner

——
Going to the 50’s not only steered me away from the five panel look of our 
door, it stepped spades away from the way the door was constructed.
——

Benjamin Barrett
Formerly of Seattle, WA
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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org 

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org