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Between a rock and a hard place

Between a rock and a hard place

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Why is it not between two hard places? I mean, a rock is hard, right?

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Originally posted by Seitse
Why is it not between two hard places? I mean, a rock is hard, right?
Six of one, half dozen of another.


Originally posted by Seitse
Why is it not between two hard places? I mean, a rock is hard, right?
It's done to make clear just that...


Originally posted by Seitse
Why is it not between two hard places? I mean, a rock is hard, right?
The only question of interest is "Between" what.

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Originally posted by Grampy Bobby
The only question of interest is "Between" what.
Interesting word origins, that.
It's an Old English derivative of an earlier iteration from the older-still Germanic phrase, wette, translated to the modern English as bet and wiener, which came across intact.
It was based upon earlier oral contracts enacted as a form of exchange, or better, a surety of exchange or promise the payment would be delivered.
When one party was taking delivery of goods with a promise of future payment, they were said to have "bet (their) wien(-er)" that such payment would be forthcoming, thus...
between.

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Originally posted by FreakyKBH
Interesting word origins, that.
It's an Old English derivative of an earlier iteration from the older-still Germanic phrase, wette, translated to the modern English as bet and wiener, which came across intact.
It was based upon earlier oral contracts enacted as a form of exchange, or better, a surety of exchange or promise the paymen ...[text shortened]... e said to have "bet (their) wien(-er)" that such payment would be forthcoming, thus...
between.
Wo! And to think all this time I thought it simply meant be (or being) and tween (middle or midst). How could I have been so wrong?

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Originally posted by lemon lime
Wo! And to think all this time I thought it simply meant [b]be (or being) and tween (middle or midst). How could I have been so wrong?[/b]
Common error.
Just be glad you didn't bet the wiener on the real origins.

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a weiner and a seitse in the same thread is like putting out fire with petrol...

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Originally posted by rookie54
a weiner and a seitse in the same thread is like putting out fire with petrol...
Or: a cracker with a parrot.

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Originally posted by rookie54
a weiner and a seitse in the same thread is like putting out fire with petrol...
Ha!


Originally posted by FreakyKBH
Common error.
Just be glad you didn't bet the wiener on the real origins.
/eyeroll

lol... men.

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Originally posted by Suzianne
/eyeroll

lol... men.
Well, endowed men.


Originally posted by FreakyKBH
Interesting word origins, that.
It's an Old English derivative of an earlier iteration from the older-still Germanic phrase, wette, translated to the modern English as bet and wiener, which came across intact.
It was based upon earlier oral contracts enacted as a form of exchange, or better, a surety of exchange or promise the paymen ...[text shortened]... e said to have "bet (their) wien(-er)" that such payment would be forthcoming, thus...
between.
that's actually quite funny
if you can make that up
you certainly can pretend to be a flat-earther.

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Originally posted by lemon lime
Wo! And to think all this time I thought it simply meant [b]be (or being) and tween (middle or midst). How could I have been so wrong?[/b]
The derivation is most likely "by" "tweon".
"by" meaning close to or inferring proximity.
'tweon" meaning two

... or something like that depending how far back you go.

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Originally posted by wolfgang59
that's actually quite funny
if you can make that up
you certainly can pretend to be a flat-earther.
I'll take that as a compliment.

Or, at very minimum, a comment.

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