Query: Meaning of 1933 abbreviation (slang) T.L.(from Gerald Cohen)

[Van]

maybe "tender love"?

Van
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Subject: Query: Meaning of 1933 abbreviation (slang) T.L.(from Gerald Cohen)


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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
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> Subject:      Query: Meaning of 1933 abbreviation (slang) T.L.(from Gerald
>              Cohen)
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>
> Barry,
> Would you please send the message below my signoff to  ads-l.  I'm away
> from
> Rolla, and if I send the mesage to
> ads-l from any  computer other than my own, it will arrive
> encrypted. -----
> Thanks.
>
> Best.  --- Jerry
>
> Query:  Would anyone have any idea what "t.l." (in  capitals it would be
> T.L.) means in the following following context (from  Nathanel West, Miss
> Lonelyhearts & the Day of the Locust' copyrighted 1933;  later edition: p.
> 148):
> '...Faye was coming back.  Homer  saw that Tod was going to speak to her
> about Earle and the Mexican and signaled  desperately for him not to do
> it.  She,
> however, caught at it and was  curious.
> "What have you guys been chinning about?"
> "You, darling," Tod said, "Homer has a t.l.for you.
> "Tell me, Homer."
> "No, first you tell me one."
> "Well, the man I just danced with asked me if you were a movie big  shot."
> Tod saw that Homer was unable to think of a return  compliment so he spoke
> for him.
> "I said you were the most  beautiful girl in the place." ....'
>
> ----- The reference  seems to be to a compliment.  But how would that
> derive
> from T.L.?   Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
>
> Gerald  Cohen
>
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