Anal

[Bob Haas]

In 1977's ANNIE HALL, Annie (Diane Keaton) complains to Alvy Singer (Woody
Allen) as they wait on line about having to wait for the next movie show
time because they missed a few moments of the opening credits.  Alvy replies
that he has to see a movie from beginning to end: "My analyst says it's
because I'm anal."

Annie replies: "That's a nice word for what you are."

Alvy's sense of anal must derive from anal retentive, while Annie's ironic
reply implies the sense that I believe many people employ when they use it.

In either case, it's loads of fun!

On 2/15/02 9:44 AM, "James Smith" <jsmithjamessmith at YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> One of my daughters (23 yrs)occasionally uses the
> single word ?anal? to describe someone (no, not
> me!)who is petty or overbearing, but I once described
> a person's behavior (no, not her's!)as ?anal
> retentive? and she gave me a look that indicated to me
> that she not only made no connection between her usage
> and mine, but was actually somewhat offended by my use
> of the phrase.
--

Bob Haas
Department of English
High Point University

"Wherever you go, there you are."