Words and Phrases.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 8

Words and Phrases.

“ QRA OCCIDENS,” in his second question to the “ Star,” expresses the view that “ I have got a new car ” is useless, unsightly, clumsy and gratuitous, but is constantly used by all manner of persons —professional men, statesmen, authors, radio announcers and even teachers of grammar. He adds, “ I would say this, amongst the people of one country within the Empire such abuse of * got ’ is, or at any rate was, never or rarely met with. ‘ I have got a new car out of the ditch' ’ would be quite all right, but the use there of ‘ got ’ is altogether different.” If the country to which the correspondent refers is England it has slipped, to use something of a commercial barbarism, for Fowler says “ have got,” for possessed or have, is good colloquial but not good literary English. The correspondent should note that ” getting a car out of a ditch ” is as colloquial as “ getting a new car.” You could say “ I have got gold out of a drain ” because that means winning the gold or gaining it or obtaining it. especially by labour or effort. There are, of course, some cars that you might think had been got out of a ditch. •The story is told of a man who rushed into a car saleroom and said, “Is it true that you have made a car in 24 hours? The answer was, “ Yes, certainly, why do you ask?” “Because,” said the caller, “I think I’ve got it.” TOUCHSTONE.

Life of Johnson. J NEVER SHALL FORGET the indulgenee with which he treated Hodge, his cat: for whom he himself used to go out and buy oysters, lest the servants having that trouble should take a dislike to the poor creature. I am, unluckily, one of those who have an antipathy to a cat, so that I am uneasy when in the room with one: and I own, I frequently suffered a good deal from the presence of this same Hodge. I recollect him one day scrambling up Dr Johnson’s breast, apparently with much satisfaction, while my friend smiling and half-whistling, rubbed down his back, and pulled.him by the tail; and when I observed he was a fine cat. saying, “ Why yes, Sir, but I have had cats whom I liked better than this; and then as if perceiving Hodge to be out of countenance, adding, “ but he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed.” JJIS ACUTE OBSERVATION of human life made him remark, “ Sir, there is nothing by which a man exasperates most people more, than by displaying a superiour ability or brilliancy in conversation. They seem pleased at the time; but their envy makes them curse him in their hearts.”

A flaw in the metal in a half-crown piece received by a Wellington resident placed the coin under suspicion, more than one person being led to believe that a particularly clever coiner had been at work. The coin was brought to the “ Post ” yesterday morning and was later submitted to several bank tellers, who all declared it genuine but faulty in the solidity of the metal from which it was struck. When the coin was examined under a magnifying glass a crack became apparent across one surface and it was this that robbed it of its true ring when dropped on a hard surface.