On Sat, 02 Dec 2000 16:31:06 -0500, Clarence Verge wrote:
> In the same sense F@#$ expresses ANYTHING we want.
> Possibly the most useful and well used word in North American communication,
> it can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb or any of the other grammar bits
> I've forgotten, in addition to it's (infrequent) use as an expletive.
> F@#$ing RIGHT !
A friend of mine who had immigrated to the US from a non-English speaking
country somehow quickly picked up the use of this term without realizing
the meaning of the word in any of its uncouth contexts. Soon after his
arrival in the US he got a job as a heating and air conditioning system
repair technician at Georgetown University, a Roman Catholic institution.
He used to do this kind of work in his own country. He performed so well
during his first two weeks on the job that his supervisor recommended him
for an immediate promotion and pay-raise. In order for the recommendation
to be approved, my friend had to report for an interview with the personnel
manager, who was also the top nun, who holds the religious title of
"Mother Superior". Upon beginning the interview with Mother Superior he
used the word several times in his very broken and inadequate English. My
friend told me that this very righteous woman just laughed and chuckled
about his ignorance of the circumstances and situations and social
surroundings in which the term should not be used. She gave him a very
formal hour long lesson in polite English usage. Also she most cheerfully
approved of his supervisor's recommendation for promotion. The only
downside of this story is that she called my friend's supervisor into her
office the next morning and gave him hell for not having instructed his
workers on polite English usage. She feels that should be his job,
not hers.
All the best,
Sam Heywood
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