During a visit to California last year, President Clintonremarked that 150 separate programs of job training are available tothe unemployed, but 'a lot of people fall between the cracks.'
Between the cracks? A spokesman for the Fish and WildlifeService used the same phrase in testifying before a House committeeon a bill dealing with biological diversity. Proposedclassifications 'would allow many elements of diversity to fallbetween the cracks.'
Obviously, the metaphorical phrase is through the cracks, butwe're dealing here with a figure of speech, and often those figuresdon't add up. The field embraces idioms, dialect, slang, metaphorsand colloquial speech. Such furbelows contribute greatly to the richfabric of English.
Readers often ask which is right, 'I could care less' or 'Icouldn't care less.' The phrases appear to be used interchangeably,but they're not interchangeable. They express different levels ofindifference.
If columnist Michael Kinsley were to say that he 'could careless' about Whitewater, clearly he cares in some degree about thestory. His care level is maybe 2 on a scale of 10. But if Kinsley'couldn't care less,' he plainly does not care at all.
What about the idiomatic 'for free'? At the Washington Park Zooin Portland, Ore., senior citizens sometimes are admitted for free.Cable operators may transmit local broadcasts for free. The PostalService will update certain mailing lists for free. In Canton, Ohio,the Repository reported in January that local banks were willing tocash government checks for free.
Is there anything wrong with 'for free'? Not in my book. Theidiom is perfectly clear. The phrase carries nuances that are notconveyed by 'without charge.'
At the time of the Iran-Contra hearings a few years ago, theWall Street Journal said Congress has 'a ways to go' before thehearings could compete with sitcoms on TV. Secretary of State WarrenChristopher used the same plural formulation in March about thesituation in Bosnia. An overall peace agreement, he said, is 'a waysdown the road.' He meant it was a far piece (pronounced fur piece)down the road.
How could one explain to a foreigner that when one is angry onemay be beside himself? That is what Lou Pinella was a few years ago.His catcher had failed to call for a cutoff throw to Don Mattingly.The AP said Pinella was beside himself. When Pinella is sore, thatis no place to be.
Neither can I explain how someone could turn up missing, butthat is what happened in Dillon County, S.C., in January. The MyrtleBeach Sun News reported that a 31-year-old woman had turned upmissing on Dec. 30. How do these idioms get into everyday English?
Last June an auto parts store in Cincinnati advertised a specialon windshield wipers. Most of the wipers would be sold in pairs, but'blades and 45 series refills sold in eaches.' That was the waycountry auctioneers used to sell bedroom suites (soots) in Virginia.The pieces were offered by the lot or by the each. Everyoneunderstood.
The ubiquitous verb 'done' appears in all kinds of contexts.When we are tired, we are done in. When the roast chicken is readyfor the table, it is done. A completed agreement is a done deal.Belching at dinner, my dears, is simply not done. After four visitsto Grant's Tomb, we have done Grant's Tomb.
Hundreds of idioms - probably thousands of idioms - come out ofsports. President Bush used to talk about putting on a 'full-courtpress.' In any adversarial exchange, at some point 'the ball is inhis court.' A worried fellow has an 'oh-two look on his face.' Anaggressive questioner 'throws high hard ones.' A front-runningcandidate may be 'fast out of the gate.'
The idiomatic use of 'par' is a puzzler. In the real world agolfer feels great if he scores below par - that is, if he makes abirdie or an eagle. In the world of idiom, someone who feels belowpar feels lousy.
Incidentally, as a term of golf, 'birdie' dates from 1795. Itstems from British slang in which a woman is a 'bird' and a veryattractive woman is a 'birdie.' I just looked this up
