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Post by wolf on Jan 7, 2021 17:57:08 GMT
Hi, spideyman , neesy , @osnafrank, wolf , @notaro and everyone.
I have a new question referring to a sentence I don't quite understand. I think I know the meaning of the words, but I'm not sure if I get the real sense.
The sentence is: "She was mechanically emptying the wickerwork toilet-tidy out of the window."
According to the dictionaries and the Google images, a wickerwork toilet-tidy is a sort of basket you may have in the toilet for different purposes. Is that right? But, is she really throwing the contents out of the window? 
I really could use some thoughts . Thank you!
She is tidying the dressing table, shaking the lace mats, and then,since she is deep in thought about the tutor, she mechanically-not realizing --empties the wickerwork toilet tidy basket out the window. Then continues to polish the plated pin tray on the back of her hand. All thoughts are on finding a possible tutor. Yes, she probably did throw whatever was in in basket out the window. |
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Post by neesy on Jan 8, 2021 0:29:38 GMT
Hi, spideyman , neesy , @osnafrank, wolf , @notaro and everyone.
I have a new question referring to a sentence I don't quite understand. I think I know the meaning of the words, but I'm not sure if I get the real sense.
The sentence is: "She was mechanically emptying the wickerwork toilet-tidy out of the window."
According to the dictionaries and the Google images, a wickerwork toilet-tidy is a sort of basket you may have in the toilet for different purposes. Is that right? But, is she really throwing the contents out of the window?
I really could use some thoughts . Thank you! Hi, spideyman , neesy , @osnafrank, wolf , @notaro and everyone.
I have a new question referring to a sentence I don't quite understand. I think I know the meaning of the words, but I'm not sure if I get the real sense.
The sentence is: "She was mechanically emptying the wickerwork toilet-tidy out of the window."
According to the dictionaries and the Google images, a wickerwork toilet-tidy is a sort of basket you may have in the toilet for different purposes. Is that right? But, is she really throwing the contents out of the window?
I really could use some thoughts . Thank you!
She is tidying the dressing table, shaking the lace mats, and then,since she is deep in thought about the tutor, she mechanically-not realizing --empties the wickerwork toilet tidy basket out the window. Then continues to polish the plated pin tray on the back of her hand. All thoughts are on finding a possible tutor. Yes, she probably did throw whatever was in in basket out the window.Ahh - as usual Spidey has figured it out!  
I had never heard of such a thing as a "toilet tidy" before Gelata
Glad you got an answer to your question  |
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Post by wolf on Jan 8, 2021 0:35:39 GMT
Hi, spideyman , neesy , @osnafrank, wolf , @notaro and everyone.
I have a new question referring to a sentence I don't quite understand. I think I know the meaning of the words, but I'm not sure if I get the real sense.
The sentence is: "She was mechanically emptying the wickerwork toilet-tidy out of the window."
According to the dictionaries and the Google images, a wickerwork toilet-tidy is a sort of basket you may have in the toilet for different purposes. Is that right? But, is she really throwing the contents out of the window?
I really could use some thoughts . Thank you! Hi Gelata . That is from Appius and Virginia. I think the clue to your question is the first part-- "while she thought". Thus she was mechanically-- without thinking about her actions of organizing( what she was actually doing) , but rather about hiring a tutor for Appius.
She is tidying the dressing table, shaking the lace mats, and then,since she is deep in thought about the tutor, she mechanically-not realizing --empties the wickerwork toilet tidy basket out the window. Then continues to polish the plated pin tray on the back of her hand. All thoughts are on finding a possible tutor. Yes, she probably did throw whatever was in in basket out the window. Ahh - as usual Spidey has figured it out! 
I had never heard of such a thing as a "toilet tidy" before Gelata
Glad you got an answer to your question  |
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Post by neesy on Jan 8, 2021 0:43:12 GMT
Wasn't sure if I could help as I thought maybe they were talking about a wicker waste basket...Ahh - as usual Spidey has figured it out!
I had never heard of such a thing as a "toilet tidy" before Gelata
Glad you got an answer to your question   May be!
Maybe its one of these things?
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Post by wolf on Jan 8, 2021 0:47:57 GMT
Sounded like a more....."Brittish" type of terminology to me, for a caddy or an organizer tray. 🙂  May be!
Maybe its one of these things?
....a little large for something that absent-mindedly gets emptied out a window though. 😊 |
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Post by wolf on Jan 8, 2021 0:54:16 GMT
I'm thinkin' it's something like this.....
The whole point is that she (Virginia), is not paying attention to what she is doing, and dumps it all out the window....you know....like being in a hurry while putting away groceries and you accidently put your car keys in the fridge along with the milk. 🙂
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Post by Gelata on Jan 8, 2021 9:47:46 GMT
Thank you so much, wolf, spideyman and neesy, for your answers. @spidey, you are absolutely right, that's the book. I'm working on it now. I hadn't seen the connection between Virginia doing things mechanically and her throwing something out of the window, because she was not paying attention to what she was doing, as wolf also said. I also felt confused about the concept of the toilet basket itself, because I figured it out as a big basket, like for keeping towels, or toilet paper, or clothes, etc. But now I understand it is a "caddy" as wolf said. I didn't know this word, but it makes it more logical to me, because Virginia is tidying up her dressing table, not the bathroom. And it wouldn't be logical for a person to mechnically go to the toilet and empty the basket, indeed!  And, yes, wolf and neesy, "toilet tidy" must be a British term (and probably quite old-fashioned too), since it's a book by a British writer from the first half of the 20th century. Thank you so much for your ideas, you've been a great help! olfEOEbpO0rxuamBULVg |
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Post by neesy on Jan 8, 2021 16:17:11 GMT
Thank you so much, wolf , spideyman and neesy , for your answers. @spidey, you are absolutely right, that's the book. I'm working on it now. I hadn't seen the connection between Virginia doing things mechanically and her throwing something out of the window, because she was not paying attention to what she was doing, as wolf also said. I also felt confused about the concept of the toilet basket itself, because I figured it out as a big basket, like for keeping towels, or toilet paper, or clothes, etc. But now I understand it is a "caddy" as wolf said. I didn't know this word, but it makes it more logical to me, because Virginia is tidying up her dressing table, not the bathroom. And it wouldn't be logical for a person to mechnically go to the toilet and empty the basket, indeed!  And, yes, wolf and neesy , "toilet tidy" must be a British term (and probably quite old-fashioned too), since it's a book by a British writer from the first half of the 20th century. Thank you so much for your ideas, you've been a great help!  Aha! This makes sense now - it's nothing to do with a toilet in the bathroom
I should have known this from watching Downton Abbey - ladies back then would "do their toilet" which means fixing their hair etc.
Back then they would have a lady's maid to help with dressing etc. (if you were well off/aristocratic) - thanks for clearing that up!
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Post by wolf on Jan 8, 2021 20:40:57 GMT
Thank you so much, wolf , spideyman and neesy , for your answers. @spidey, you are absolutely right, that's the book. I'm working on it now. I hadn't seen the connection between Virginia doing things mechanically and her throwing something out of the window, because she was not paying attention to what she was doing, as wolf also said. I also felt confused about the concept of the toilet basket itself, because I figured it out as a big basket, like for keeping towels, or toilet paper, or clothes, etc. But now I understand it is a "caddy" as wolf said. I didn't know this word, but it makes it more logical to me, because Virginia is tidying up her dressing table, not the bathroom. And it wouldn't be logical for a person to mechnically go to the toilet and empty the basket, indeed! And, yes, wolf and neesy , "toilet tidy" must be a British term (and probably quite old-fashioned too), since it's a book by a British writer from the first half of the 20th century. Thank you so much for your ideas, you've been a great help!
Glad to have been a little help.
Fun and interesting discussion about it all! 😊 |
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Post by wolf on Jan 8, 2021 20:43:16 GMT
Thank you so much, wolf , spideyman and neesy , for your answers. @spidey, you are absolutely right, that's the book. I'm working on it now. I hadn't seen the connection between Virginia doing things mechanically and her throwing something out of the window, because she was not paying attention to what she was doing, as wolf also said. I also felt confused about the concept of the toilet basket itself, because I figured it out as a big basket, like for keeping towels, or toilet paper, or clothes, etc. But now I understand it is a "caddy" as wolf said. I didn't know this word, but it makes it more logical to me, because Virginia is tidying up her dressing table, not the bathroom. And it wouldn't be logical for a person to mechnically go to the toilet and empty the basket, indeed! And, yes, wolf and neesy , "toilet tidy" must be a British term (and probably quite old-fashioned too), since it's a book by a British writer from the first half of the 20th century. Thank you so much for your ideas, you've been a great help! Aha! This makes sense now - it's nothing to do with a toilet in the bathroom
I should have known this from watching Downton Abbey - ladies back then would "do their toilet" which means fixing their hair etc.
Back then they would have a lady's maid to help with dressing etc. (if you were well off/aristocratic) - thanks for clearing that up!
Reminded me of Poirot in "Murder on the Orient Express",
talking about doing his nightly 'toilet'. |
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Post by wolf on Dec 31, 2021 20:04:00 GMT
This thread had gotten buried,
so I'm making a post here to make it easier to find.
...just in case Gelata ,
or anyone else,
might need to find it easier. 🙂
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Post by Gelata on Dec 12, 2022 19:52:23 GMT
This thread had gotten buried,
so I'm making a post here to make it easier to find.
...just in case Gelata ,
or anyone else,
might need to find it easier. 🙂  but I thank you for your concern 
In fact, I should be posting here almost everyday, because I always have questions and doubts about English words and expressions, and I love the useful and kind explanations you provide.
Be back soon! |
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Post by wolf on Dec 13, 2022 15:18:00 GMT
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Post by Gelata on Jan 21, 2023 20:24:26 GMT
Hi, spideyman, wolf, neesy, Dizzy, osnafrank, and everyone. Working on a new translation I came across a sentence I don't quite understand, and I was wondering if you could help me with it. The sentence is: "We may be glad of half their money". And the context: two unemployed actors have been at the office of an artists' agent to registrate, in the hope that he can find them a job. When they leave the office one of the actors is very pesimistic, but the other one says:" No need to get up-stage. We may be glad of half their money, before we hit the bright lights". I understand the general situation, but I don't get the exact sense of that sentence. I could use some help. Thank you in advanced! |
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Post by wolf on Jan 21, 2023 21:16:30 GMT
Hi, spideyman , wolf , neesy , Dizzy , osnafrank , and everyone. Working on a new translation I came across a sentence I don't quite understand, and I was wondering if you could help me with it. The sentence is: "We may be glad of half their money". And the context: two unemployed actors have been at the office of an artists' agent to registrate, in the hope that he can find them a job. When they leave the office one of the actors is very pesimistic, but the other one says:" No need to get up-stage. We may be glad of half their money, before we hit the bright lights". I understand the general situation, but I don't get the exact sense of that sentence. I could use some help. Thank you in advanced!
Always happy to try and be a help to you. 
Okay...I am thinking on how to word things accurately and succinctly.
Again, I think I'm picking up on an 'English tone' in this passage.
(Like with the 'caddy' question, you had in a previous post here.)
"We may be glad to get half their money"
In that context that means to me, that they/he is anticipating attaining or taking a substantial amount of money from them.
Edders? What do you think?
Am I off or misunderstanding anything there?
Tanith ? What do you think?
Appreciate any help from anyone.
Gelata, edwardjohn and also Tanith , are very nice and knowledgeable good friends here.
In case you have never met before,
lady and gentleman, I introduce to you Gelata from Spain.
She is a very good friend from way back on the SKMB.
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Post by Dizzy on Jan 21, 2023 22:06:55 GMT
Hi, spideyman, wolf, neesy, Dizzy, osnafrank, and everyone. Working on a new translation I came across a sentence I don't quite understand, and I was wondering if you could help me with it. The sentence is: "We may be glad of half their money". And the context: two unemployed actors have been at the office of an artists' agent to registrate, in the hope that he can find them a job. When they leave the office one of the actors is very pesimistic, but the other one says:" No need to get up-stage. We may be glad of half their money, before we hit the bright lights". I understand the general situation, but I don't get the exact sense of that sentence. I could use some help. Thank you in advanced! I Sure Wolf Is Right. Im Not The Best Person To Ask Though English Not My First Language An I Don Speak Well IRL Sorry Girl. |
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Post by Tanith on Jan 21, 2023 22:50:38 GMT
Hello, Gelata!
As Dizzy said, wolf is probably right. That's how it seems to me, anyway.
Sorry it took me so long to respond. I was inexplicably hungry following today's "Movie Madness" offering and went straight to work on dinner. 
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Post by edwardjohn on Jan 21, 2023 23:45:08 GMT
Gelata wolf Tanith
Hey guys! Oh yeah, Wolf, I remember Gelata from the old board! Hola, Gelata, I hope you're doing well.
Okay, so on to the sentence. Gelata, is that the exact way its worded? Because that's very weird wording. And are you translating a work in English or are you reading a book in English translation?
Regardless, my understanding of the sentence is that the actors would be happy with even half of what their new agent would be making. My understanding of actor agents is that they make a lot of money through them usually representing big deal actors and getting a percentage of their fees (for being a broker). So, basically that actor is thinking, 'man, with the sort of money these guys (agents) are making, wouldn't it be awesome to make HALF of what he makes?' Because that will still be a substantial amount.
That's my interpretation anyway.
I hope you're doing great, guys!
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Post by edwardjohn on Jan 21, 2023 23:48:42 GMT
wireman
Joe, have you got an opinion on this?
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Post by wolf on Jan 22, 2023 0:08:13 GMT
Hi, spideyman , wolf , neesy , Dizzy , osnafrank , and everyone. Working on a new translation I came across a sentence I don't quite understand, and I was wondering if you could help me with it. The sentence is: "We may be glad of half their money".
And the context: two unemployed actors have been at the office of an artists' agent to registrate, in the hope that he can find them a job. When they leave the office one of the actors is very pesimistic, but the other one says:" No need to get up-stage. We may be glad of half their money, before we hit the bright lights".
I understand the general situation, but I don't get the exact sense of that sentence. I could use some help. Thank you in advanced! Hello, Gelata!
As Dizzy said, wolf is probably right. That's how it seems to me, anyway.
Sorry it took me so long to respond. I was inexplicably hungry following today's "Movie Madness" offering and went straight to work on dinner. Gelata wolf Tanith
Hey guys! Oh yeah, Wolf, I remember Gelata from the old board! Hola, Gelata, I hope you're doing well.
Okay, so on to the sentence. Gelata, is that the exact way its worded? Because that's very weird wording. And are you translating a work in English or are you reading a book in English translation?
Regardless, my understanding of the sentence is that the actors would be happy with even half of what their new agent would be making. My understanding of actor agents is that they make a lot of money through them usually representing big deal actors and getting a percentage of their fees (for being a broker). So, basically that actor is thinking, 'man, with the sort of money these guys (agents) are making, wouldn't it be awesome to make HALF of what he makes?' Because that will still be a substantial amount.
That's my interpretation anyway.
I hope you're doing great, guys! 
(I love this thread Gelata , it's interesting and often very fun!  )
Edders, above highlighted in the magenta-ish font is the passage if that helps.
(in case you missed the original post 😉)
Yes, I'm interested in, and looking forward to, what wireman and Lady spideyman might bring also. |
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May be!
but I thank you for your concern 
)