[For those not familiar with P G Wodehouse's Jeeves series ... set in the post WWI era in London,
Jeeves is the butler/man Friday, (very sharp witted and well read) to a dimwit rich aristocrat called Bertie Wooster.]
One day, Bertie Wooster decided to read a book.
On the very first page he came across an unfamiliar word. So he called out to Jeeves.
"Jeeves, what is this 'fox pass'?"
"This what, sir?"
"'Fox pass', Jeeves."
"Oh, that would be 'faux pas': a French phrase, sir, pronounced 'foe pa'; which literally means a 'false step'
but is equivalent to 'putting your foot in your mouth' in English.
"Yes, dash it, whatever."
"Well sir, let me explain it this way. Do you remember last weekend when Miss Plushbottom came to stay for the weekend?"
"Yes."
"And do you remember how on Sunday morning you pricked your finger on a rose?"
"Yes."
"And do you remember how, later, at breakfast, Miss Plushbottom asked you, 'Is your prick still throbbing, Bertie?', and you dropped a pot of marmalade?"
"Yes, Jeeves."
"Well, that, sir, was a faux pas . . . ."
Excellent start to my morning, Patz!!!
ReplyDeleteDitto, Lita, for finding you here :)
ReplyDeleteGosh I love it, faux pas indeed,delicious, you and your husband are now part of my morning prayers xxx
ReplyDeleteA long, long time ago, when engineers started to build highways across the English countryside, the poor animals found that their normal paths have been cut-off by wide stretches of blacktop. Trying to cross these highways meant almost certain roadkill. Hedgehogs, rabbits, tortoises and even foxes became victims. So them smart engineers decided to build tiny culverts under their roads to allow safe crossing for the wildlife. And they called them holes... fox pass.
ReplyDeleteAm pretty sure Jeeves would've liked my explanation.... muahaha!
Jawohl, i got it!
ReplyDelete'faux pas' = false step = dropped pot of marmalade!
Smart, eh?
Hahahah! Yes, Lorraine, the minute I read it, I just knew I'd need to share it. Delicious, indeedy!
ReplyDeleteAnd, merci, ma cherie. tes prières travaillent :)
Oldstock: I love your take on it, and I will remember it :)
When I was on my way to Banff, in Canada, the tour guide told of the same: how the long highways were affecting the animals, and about those fox passes (though I don't remember him saying exactly that). However, some animals, instinctively will not enter little underground tunnels, SO they built 'over-head bridges' for them. And we'd pass them, now and again, on our way to and from Banff. Sadly, I didn't seen any animal using any of the bridges, even though I kept my eyes pealed all the time.
I loved your story - because I am such an animal-loving nut - so, I just wanted to tag on the little bit that I'd heard.
Stimmt das wirklich, Walla?! I am glad. Yes, dear, you be very the smart :)