Dave Bell wrote:

> On Fri, 30 Apr 1999, Fernando Cabral wrote:
>
> > Now, I hate when I see something like "2 yards, 2 feet, 5 inches and
> > (the stroke of mercy)  1/8" -- It takes me several seconds to figure out
> > how tall that person is!
>
> Or when I see specifications such as:
>
> "Torque wheel bolts to 50 foot-pounds (6.9449 Newton-Metres)",
> which comes back to the issue of "precision"!
>
> > By the way: does "stroke of mercy" make sense in English?
>
> Yes, but we really never translate it - from the French! "Coup de grace"

Now I am sure it makes sense. But if I were to say "coup de grace"
I would be accused of suffering of francophilia. :-)

- fernando


--
Fernando Cabral                         Padrao iX Sistemas Abertos
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]              http://www.pix.com.br
                                        mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fone: +55 61 321-2433                   Fax: +55 61 225-3082
15º 45' 04.9" S                         47º 49' 58.6" W
19º 37' 57.0" S                         45º 17' 13.6" W

Reply via email to