available

[Laurence Horn]

On Aug 9, 2012, at 9:58 AM, Baker, John wrote:

> I take the line to mean that she worked for somebody (Charlie, I assume) on a part-time or contract basis, when other commitments did not interfere, but she stopped working after her marriage.
>
>
> John Baker

I agree; this can be seen as elliptical in the context for "when she was available to work".  It's not (necessarily) the specialized use of "available" that's elliptical for "available for dating/marrying".

LH
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Victor Steinbok
> Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 11:07 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: available
>
> A line from Charlie's Angels (the original series):
>
>> She worked a lot when she was available, but not since she's been
>> married to Mr. [].
>
> "Available" is the usual (if a bit old-fashioned) euphemism for
> "unmarried and unattached" (or, to put in more contemporary terms,
> "single"), but I've never heard it put quite this way--in indirect
> context (that is, when the discussion is not specifically of someone's
> "availability" or "interest") ...
>
> But, as I've said before, I've lived a sheltered life...
>
>     VS-)
>
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>
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