I think the first time I was introduced to one of these things was when I was in elementary school, except it was in paper form (instead of wooden), and it had some text on the back explaining that now “you have a round tuit” so now you can do all the things you said you’d do when you “get a round tuit.”
My Mom had to explain both the sound-based pun (because I’m deaf) and also the contextual situation in which people often say “around to it” (because I was young enough I guess I hadn’t yet really been exposed to the idiomatic phrase “around to it”; being deaf probably didn’t help because that’s the kind of phrase you hear more often in casual conversation rather than in formal writing, so I had fewer opportunities for casual exposure to that type of language.)
I’ve had this button explained to me so many times, but I *still* have to sit and figure it out. For some reason my brain comes up with a long i, so it comes out sounding “to eat” instead of “to it”… I was so born to the wrong language.
How bizarre [and timely] I found two wooden discs by the recycling cart after the rubbish men had been this morning. Now I know what to do with them! Anyone want my spare?
Cheers
Shouldn’t that be “now you’ve got one…”? The phrasing of idioms is important…
Andrea’s Buzzing About:
Rights advocate for the disabled & others. Scientist against quackery. An "Insect Psychologist" puzzling how we can improve the environment for insects & humans.
Please note that all comments including hyperlinks automatically get dumped into the moderation or spam folders. This is a personal site, so naturally I cannot check it while I am at work, and I have two jobs. This means your post may not appear for a few hours until I can attend to things. It's nothing personal, just the usual nutz spam-to-comments ratio. Do note that I will screen out infomercial spam.
Sense About Science has also produced a guide to weighing up claims about cures and treatments. Get the guide by clicking this e-button:
____________________________
FAIR USE STATEMENT
To those who would copy, borrow or steal the posts on this blog:
As sole author of these posts, I would appreciate if you would limit your quotes to a paragraph and a link, rather than copying my writing entire. This work is protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Much as I appreciate the kudos, as a professional author I'd prefer to not have my works distributed wholesale. When unsure, drop me a comment on the post page, and I'll be glad to work things out with you.
andrea
Ryan Potter said,
20 November 2010 at 4:54
I found a wooden round tuit but it has Minden Neb on the other side
qw88nb88 said,
18 July 2008 at 13:28
Andrea,
As you can see, even some hearing people trip over this pun! Idioms are difficult for many people.
me
Andrea Shettle, MSW said,
18 July 2008 at 11:05
I think the first time I was introduced to one of these things was when I was in elementary school, except it was in paper form (instead of wooden), and it had some text on the back explaining that now “you have a round tuit” so now you can do all the things you said you’d do when you “get a round tuit.”
My Mom had to explain both the sound-based pun (because I’m deaf) and also the contextual situation in which people often say “around to it” (because I was young enough I guess I hadn’t yet really been exposed to the idiomatic phrase “around to it”; being deaf probably didn’t help because that’s the kind of phrase you hear more often in casual conversation rather than in formal writing, so I had fewer opportunities for casual exposure to that type of language.)
lori said,
17 July 2008 at 20:11
hahahaha :) I had no idea what it was until I read David’s comment. If I ever get one, I will have about a bazillion things to do!
Anna said,
17 July 2008 at 3:33
I’ve had this button explained to me so many times, but I *still* have to sit and figure it out. For some reason my brain comes up with a long i, so it comes out sounding “to eat” instead of “to it”… I was so born to the wrong language.
Maddy said,
17 July 2008 at 2:37
How bizarre [and timely] I found two wooden discs by the recycling cart after the rubbish men had been this morning. Now I know what to do with them! Anyone want my spare?
Cheers
andrea said,
17 July 2008 at 1:45
“have got”? nah …
“Now you got one, so do it!”
All better now?
andrea
David Andrews M. Ed. (Distinction) said,
17 July 2008 at 1:29
a round tuit
(around to it) :P
ebohlman said,
16 July 2008 at 23:46
Shouldn’t that be “now you’ve got one…”? The phrasing of idioms is important…