"shade-tree mechanic", not in (some) dictionaries

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 11:01 AM, Mark Mandel <thnidu at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 10:49 AM, Benjamin Zimmer <
> bgzimmer at babel.ling.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
>> Not having lived on the other side of the isogloss, I had always assumed it
>> was simply a fresh-air version of the "armchair" modifier (MWCD: "remote from
>> direct dealing with problems : theoretical rather than practical"). That
>> analogy certainly works for "philosopher" and "engineer", which can take
>> either modifier. But it doesn't always correspond -- would-be mechanics are
>> more likely to hold forth under the shade tree, while would-be quarterbacks
>> and generals are restricted to the armchair.
>
> I take it not as "wannabe" or "theoretical", but as "amateur",
> "non-professional" (in several senses): one who works on his car, and maybe
> his neighbor's, out in the yard, as opposed to somebody who's got a properly
> equipped garage. In fact, it's "practical" (and practicing but not licensed)
> as opposed to "theoretical" (and trained).

Ah, that certainly makes sense. Well, for the mechanics at least -- philosophers
are unlikely to get their hands dirty regardless of where they're sitting.


--Ben Zimmer

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