[Ads-l] NYTimes: "A _fathom_ of lies"

[paul johnson]

I think he was reaching for phantasmagorical.

On 12/8/2018 1:42 AM, ADSGarson O'Toole wrote:
> Dan Goncharoff wrote:
>> Perhaps the kid invented a needed word that doesn't exist...
> I’ve heard the express “fathomless lies” where “fathomless” means
> “unable to be measured or understood; extremely deep.” Conceivable the
> student heard “fathomless lies” and constructed “fathom of lies”.
>
> Here is one sample match when I Google “fathomless lies”:
> Date: September 9, 1886
> Periodical: Boston Medical and Surgical Journal
>
> [Begin excerpt]
> The papers that hoist before the public the figures of their
> circulation—apt to be fathomless lies— . .  .
> [End excerpt]
>
> Garson
>
> On Fri, Dec 7, 2018 at 9:04 PM Dan Goncharoff <thegonch at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Perhaps the kid invented a needed word that doesn't exist...
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 7, 2018, 1:57 PM Andy Bach <afbach at gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> *A Times investigation* found that a Louisiana school previously celebrated
>>> for getting underprivileged black students into top colleges falsified
>>> transcripts, invented student accomplishments and exploited the worst
>>> stereotypes of black America
>>> <
>>> http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=pMJKdIFVI6pghfX2HXfSzxRpdoyDWYNWuWr9t/FYfi7Pbcgy+RdIKQMy92vRGnAsnc59Sb4RPqeK5m3DMVZtkH8T/iZV7tK2yG31j3AJwpDFcS8Tr/jnxcDl0ngi4EHXhKw/L7u26I+xN1Z8juZ13Upti3q2ujunOnqxZl3YOy0=&campaign_id=57&instance_id=5823&segment_id=8223&user_id=a908a479818f024d9e05edf3ee8eded0&regi_id=5433534720181130
>>>> .
>>>
>>> “I was just a small piece in a whole fathom of lies,” one former student
>>> said.
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/us/tm-landry-college-prep-black-students.html?emc=edit_ne_20181130&nl=evening-briefing&nlid=5433534720181130&te=1
>>>
>>> "Fabric of lies" maybe?
>>> --
>>>
>>> a
>>>
>>> Andy Bach,
>>> afbach at gmail.com
>>> 608 658-1890 cell
>>> 608 261-5738 wk
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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