Ship of Fools: Displaced Adjective Noun Connections

Thread: Displaced Adjective Noun Connections Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Kaplan Corday (# 16119) on :

I have just come across the expression “social Darwinians”, which comes across as a description of gregarious, convivial evolutionists rather than, as obviously intended in context, proponents of Social Darwinism.

Other examples are “Cold Warriors” and (regularly used by the media in any story about Ronnie Biggs) “Great Train Robber”.

The first suggests soldiers battling it out in the icy wastes (“The snow shall be their winding sheet”), perhaps on WWII’s Eastern Front, instead of ideological opponents in the Cold War of the late forties onward.

The second evokes a picture of a physically and legendarily formidable bandit, instead of a seedy, small-time crook who happened to participate in the Great (in terms of amount of money stolen) Train Robbery.

Any other examples?

Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :

Not sure what effect you're looking for?

Posted by Hart (# 4991) on :

He's looking for nominal phrases in which the underlying structure is not clear from what's on the surface. Like the fact that, syntactically, "Great Train Robber" could be "[Great Train] Robber" (ie. a robber of a great train) or a "Great [Train Robber]" (ie. someone who is a great robber of trains). I would have thought that any three word adj/noun compound would have this property. Eg. a "tiny book store" could be a store that sells tiny books, or a tiny store that sells books. In speech, prosody generally distinguishes for us.

The situation does get a little more interesting in the earlier examples, like "social darwinist." Clearly, what's intended is an adherent to "social darwinism." The rule of English that replacing an "ism" with an "ist" makes a kind of agent noun (where the tacit verb is adhering to or some such), has here been applied to a noun phrase rather than just a noun.

I think on some level that can be hard to recognize. We want to take the adjective as modifying the noun we see, not the "ism" noun. An example that riles many, including me, is "illegal immigrant." What people who use this actual mean is a participant in illegal immigration, but it sounds so much like calling a person illegal (rather than a process) that many find it objectionable.

[ 10. December 2012, 11:18: Message edited by: Hart ]

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

I always have a mental image of a Lego figure when I hear the phrase 'plastic surgeon'. Similarly, a toddler in a white coat for 'child psychiatrist'.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

Does anyone else think "Triffid!" when they see a "Heavy Plant" warning?

Posted by no prophet (# 15560) on :

Industrial Light and Magic. It sounds like something from Harry Potter, but its a movie special effects company.

People who say things like "terribly lovely" to "how are you today" also make me rather puzzled.

Posted by Jonah the Whale (# 1244) on :

Near where I studied were some offices of the Ministry of Defence. One of the turnings into it was just afte a blind corner so motorists were warned to be careful: "Concealed Entrance". A friend of mine admitted to me that she spent four year wondering why the MoD would go to all that trouble to conceal the entrance and then advertise it.

[ 10. December 2012, 15:56: Message edited by: Jonah the Whale ]

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Does anyone else think "Triffid!" when they see a "Heavy Plant" warning?

No, but I've never seen a "Heavy Plant" warning and can't imagine what it is. (And I've only heard of Triffids on SoF!)

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I've never seen a "Heavy Plant" warning and can't imagine what it is. (And I've only heard of Triffids on SoF!)

Plant = machinery

Triffids

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Does anyone else think "Triffid!" when they see a "Heavy Plant" warning?

Yep!

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
No, but I've never seen a "Heavy Plant" warning and can't imagine what it is. (And I've only heard of Triffids on SoF!)

These signs are very common in the UK - there are three on the moors where I travel to visit Mum.

[Smile]

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

"This door is alarmed"

(No it isn't, but I might be if someone tries to break through it)

"Corinthian Casuals" (are neither Corinthian nor casual in any current sense)

Posted by The Rhythm Methodist (# 17064) on :

Round these parts, there are trucks proudly emblazoned with the legend "Bob Gay Plant Hire"....which I, at least, found initially confusing.

In Kent, our continental visitors used to be greeted by a sign on the main road which said "No cat's eyes for 15 miles". I don't know if they viewed this as some sort of peculiar prohibition, or if they undestood it as a warning that there may be blind felines wandering into the road. Perhaps they just thought it was an indication that the local roadside restaurants were unable to cater for all tastes - who knows?

Posted by Morlader (# 16040) on :

Antiquarian Bookseller. Most of them are, too [Biased]

The Beeb had a "Royalty correspondent" at one time, but have now reverted to "Royal correspondent", but he isn't royal.

They also have "Wales correspondents", although they sound pretty Welsh to me.

Finally the old saw "monumental mason" who can be of any stature.

[ 10. December 2012, 17:07: Message edited by: Morlader ]

Posted by Kaplan Corday (# 16119) on :

Many decades ago, when my children were small enough to be a captive audience in the back seat of the car, I regularly enquired, when passing a Pedstrians Cross Here sign, as to what had so infuriated the walkers at that particular spot.

I think they might have smiled wanly on the very first occasion.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

I have always marvelled at child psychologists.

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :

Then there's SLOW CHILDREN PLAYING

Moo

Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :

Youth worker. We start them young.

Posted by Dogwalker (# 14135) on :

A restaurant near here serves "half baked chicken".

Posted by Enoch (# 14322) on :

The sort of place that Ken mentions where "this door is alarmed" often also includes, and the same door may even also be signed,

"Disabled Access"
(i.e. it doesn't work)

Is a "foreign correspondent" a French adulterer?

Posted by Gill H (# 68) on :

My mum once got the giggles when ordering 'Twelve black men's cassocks' as she wondered how they would differ from white men's cassocks.

I know what you mean about 'disabled seatin etc. Last week I spotted 'Disable Seating' - a very posh sign embossed on wood and in a newly refurbished venue.

Underneath was 'Please respect this area'. Oh, I do. But not the people who were too stingy to pay for a proofreader.

Posted by latecomer (# 8966) on :

slightly tangential, but how about this;

sign

Posted by Sparrow (# 2458) on :

I remember many years ago seeing a farm shop sign saying "new laid eggs drive in here".

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

There is a local firm here called Lacy Roofing. I always think that must be very impractical, especially in our climate.

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

[Killing me]

Love that sign, latecomer!

Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :

Not quite in the sense of the OP but I used to deal with a company called Sargent's PC Repairs which always gave me the impression of a kindly man with three stripes putting a plaster on the knee of a rookie constable. Mr Sargent was puzzled by this.

A client of mine calls himself a "Canine Therapist", I told him that just changing species would not fool the taxman.

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on :

A (now deceased) friend used to prepare a hugely popular dinner featuring 'Seven Boy Black-Butter Curry.'

However, much hilarity was caused because she always managed to call it 'Seven Black Boys and Butter Curry.' [Smile]

I think/hope she was unaware of her mangling of the name. (Or maybe I hope she wasn't!) [Devil]

Posted by Kaplan Corday (# 16119) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bob Two-Owls:
A client of mine calls himself a "Canine Therapist", I told him that just changing species would not fool the taxman.

I once knew a vet who had a book on her shelf titled Canine Surgery.

No doubt performed by one of the more intelligent breeds - Border Collies, perhaps, or Kelpies.

Posted by Kaplan Corday (# 16119) on :

Just come across in the paper a similar example to those in my OP: "organised criminal".

Posted by Lucia (# 15201) on :

Talking of crossing signs (as we were further up the thread!) how about the tricky question of what to do about deer crossings ?

Posted by ToujoursDan (# 10578) on :

Not quite the same, but an old style (show tunes around a piano) gay bar here in New York holds "Summer Camp" with the cross-dressing acts held in front of camping equipment.

I am old enough to always have a mental picture (and taste) of chocolate chips when am told to clear my "browser cookies".

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :

Another slight tangent, From 1066 and all that, Test Paper III: 'Why do you picture John of Gaunt as a rather emaciated grandee?'

Posted by Matt Black (# 2210) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Rhythm Methodist:
Round these parts, there are trucks proudly emblazoned with the legend "Bob Gay Plant Hire"....which I, at least, found initially confusing.

Round here we have Beaver Tool Hire: are they tools only used by beavers or some kind of marital aid?

Posted by Heavenly Anarchist (# 13313) on :

[Killing me]

Posted by Matt Black (# 2210) on :

I'm not making it up!

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Angloid:
There is a local firm here called Lacy Roofing. I always think that must be very impractical, especially in our climate.

It's for anglo-atholic vicarages.

Posted by que sais-je (# 17185) on :

Recently I've seen several vans with the Cathedral Hygiene logo. Not sure what special needs cathedrals have. The website's FAQ doesn't alas explain the name but the home address is Tamworth which may be the mundane explanation.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

I wonder if they use a lot of hyssop?

Posted by Bob Two-Owls (# 9680) on :

Conversation heard in the office this morning:

Alan: The man is an intellectual dwarf!
Bob: He isn't that short, nor is he particularly intellectual.

Posted by mdijon (# 8520) on :

"Small chips please".

(Chip size being as categorized by European Union standards.)

Posted by Enoch (# 14322) on :

Some years ago (the prices indicate that), I saw on a farm gate post, a sign that read approximately as follows.

HORSE MANURE
50p per bag

BAG YOUR OWN
25p per bag

PLEASE PROVIDE OWN BAG

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

After fighting through the Christmas shopping crowds I always want to say 'I can see why' when I see a sign saying Menswear.

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

I'm sure there are a few criminal lawyers around but I don't know why they want to advertise the fact.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

I'm sure that Laurie Wakeham isn't the only one.

They could be in need of a criminal lawyer.

Posted by The Machine Elf (# 1622) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Bob Two-Owls:
A client of mine calls himself a "Canine Therapist", I told him that just changing species would not fool the taxman.

Do you have to see someone else if your molars need therapy?

There was a oldie from the news quiz which mentioned a letter to the Guardian complaining of racism because they described the perpetrator of a crime as a "black cab driver".

[ 15. December 2012, 10:16: Message edited by: The Machine Elf ]

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